House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Wednesday
23rd March 2011

No. 137

Wednesday 23 March 2011

The House met at 11.30 am.

PRAYERS.

1 Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

(2) the Prime Minister

2 Financial Statement (Chancellor of the Exchequer)

3 Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report and Financial Statement and Budget Report

Ordered, That there be laid before this House a copy of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report and Financial Statement and Budget Report, as laid before this House by Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer when opening the Budget.-(Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer.)

4 Ways and Means: Provisional Collection of Taxes

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 51(2)), That, pursuant to section 5 of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968, provisional statutory effect shall be given to the following motions:-

(a) Increase in rate of supplementary charge (Motion No. 8);

(b) Alcoholic liquor duties (rates) (Motion No. 10);

(c) Tobacco products duty (rates) (Motion No. 12);

(d) Amusement machine licence duty (amounts of duty) (Motion No. 13);

(e) Fuel duty (rates from 23 March 2011) (Motion No. 14); and

(f) Stamp duty land tax (prevention of avoidance) (Motion No. 49).-(Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer.)

Question agreed to.

5 Ways and Means: Amendment of the Law

Motion made and Question proposed, That,-

(1) It is expedient to amend the law with respect to the National Debt and the public revenue and to make further provision in connection with finance.

(2) This Resolution does not extend to the making of any amendment with respect to value added tax so as to provide-

(a) for zero-rating or exempting a supply, acquisition or importation;

(b) for refunding an amount of tax;

(c) for any relief, other than a relief that-

(i) so far as it is applicable to goods, applies to goods of every description, and

(ii) so far as it is applicable to services, applies to services of every description.-(Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer.)

6 Deferred divisions

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

Section 6 of the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008,-That this House takes note of draft European Council decision EUCO 33/10 (to amend Article 136 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union with regard to a stability mechanism for Member States whose currency is the euro) and, in accordance with section 6 of the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008, approves Her Majesty’s Government’s intention to support the adoption of draft European Council decision EUCO 33/10.

Division No. 236.

Ayes: 310.

Noes: 29.

Question accordingly agreed to.

7 Ways and Means: Amendment of the Law (resumed)

The House resumed the debate.

At 7.00 pm, the debate was adjourned (Standing Order No. 9(3)).

Debate to be resumed tomorrow.

8 Private Members’ Bills

Motion made, That, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 14(4), Private Members’ Bills shall have precedence over Government business on 9 September 2011, 21 October 2011, 25 November 2011 and 20 January 2012.-(Bill Wiggin.)

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

9 Public Petitions

A Public Petition from staff and pupils of Hackleton Church of England Primary School relating to Child Health was presented and read by Andrea Leadsom.

A Public Petition from residents of Montgomeryshire relating to Hospital Services (Shropshire) was presented and read by Glyn Davies.

A Public Petition from residents of Shrewsbury and Atcham relating to Hospital Services (Shropshire) was presented and read by Daniel Kawczynski.

10 Adjournment

Subject: Cheshunt Urgent Care Centre (Mr Charles Walker).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.-(Stephen Crabb.)

Adjourned at 7.33 pm until tomorrow.

_________________

Other proceedings

Lords Messages

11 Draft Defamation Bill (Joint Committee on)

The Lords have come to the following Resolution, to which they desire the agreement of this House:

That it is expedient that a Joint Committee of Lords and Commons be appointed to consider and report on the draft Defamation Bill presented to both Houses on 15 March (Cm. 8020) and that the Committee should report on the draft Bill by 19 July.

Changes to Notices Given

12 House of Commons Disqualification (Amendment) Bill

Order for Second Reading on Wednesday 7 September, read and discharged.

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 9 September.

13 Training Wage Bill

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 9 September.

14 Parliament (Amendment) Bill

Order for resuming on Friday 28 October the Question proposed on 4 March, That the Bill be now read a second time, read and discharged.

Debate to be resumed on Friday 25 November.

15 European Communities Act 1972 (Repeal) Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 9 December, read and discharged.

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 20 January 2012.

16 Face Coverings (Regulation) Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 2 December, read and discharged.

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 20 January 2012.

17 Consumer Protection (Postal Marketing) Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 June, read and discharged.

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 9 September.

18 Waste Recycling (End Use Register) Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 June, read and discharged.

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 21 October.

19 Tied Public Houses (Code of Practice) Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 10 June, read and discharged.

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 25 November.

20 Carers (Identification and Support) Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 10 June, read and discharged.

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 25 November.

21 Electoral Law (Amendment) Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 25 March, read and discharged.

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 25 November.

General Committees: Reports

22 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee

Philip Davies (Chair) reported the draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 and the draft Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2011.

23 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee

Mr Roger Gale (Chair) reported the draft Equality Act 2010 (Public Authorities and Consequential and Supplementary Amendments) Order 2011.

24 Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee

Mr Andrew Turner (Chair) reported the draft Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity.

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).

25 Legislation (Territorial Extent) Bill Committee

Chair: Mr Roger Gale.

26 First Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Employment Equality (Repeal of Retirement Age Provisions) Regulations 2011)

(1) Chair: Philip Davies

(2) Members: Peter Aldous, Lorely Burt, Mr Edward Davey, Geraint Davies, Michael Ellis, Chris Evans, Paul Flynn, Lilian Greenwood, Mr Stephen Hepburn, Pauline Latham, Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger, Ian Lucas, Siobhain McDonagh, Nicky Morgan, Mr Brooks Newmark, Mr David Nuttall, Simon Reevell and David Simpson.

27 Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Guardian’s Allowance Up-Rating Order 2011, the draft Tax Credits Up-Rating Regulations 2011 and the draft Guardian’s Allowance Up-Rating (Northern Ireland) Order 2011)

(1) Chair: John Robertson

(2) Members: Gavin Barwell, Gordon Birtwistle, Fiona Bruce, Alun Cairns, Mr Frank Field, Mr Robert Goodwill, Justine Greening, John Hemming, Kate Hoey, Charlotte Leslie, Kerry McCarthy, Gregg McClymont, Ian Mearns, David Morris, Paul Murphy, Joan Ruddock, Chris Skidmore and Sammy Wilson.

28 Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Warm Home Discount Regulations 2011)

(1) Chair: Andrew Rosindell

(2) Members: Mr David Anderson, Luciana Berger, Mr David Blunkett, Ann Coffey, Oliver Colvile, Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson, Charles Hendry, Damian Hinds, Glenda Jackson, Mrs Siân C. James, Brandon Lewis, John McDonnell, Mark Menzies, Andrew Percy, Mr Mark Spencer, Mr Shailesh Vara, Roger Williams and Simon Wright.

29 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 and the draft Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2011)

Members: Jenny Willott discharged and Mr Alan Reid nominated in substitution.

30 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2011)

(1) Chair: Mr Roger Gale

(2) Members: Adam Afriyie, Ann Clwyd, Jon Cruddas, Frank Dobson, Nadine Dorries, Damian Green, Dr Julian Huppert, Mr John Leech, Mr Pat McFadden, Shabana Mahmood, James Morris, Ian Paisley, Claire Perry, Mark Pritchard, David Rutley, Mark Tami, Mr David Winnick and Jeremy Wright.

31 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Equality Act 2010 (Public Authorities and Consequential and Supplementary Amendments) Order 2011)

Members: Mark Tami discharged and Graham Jones nominated in substitution.

32 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (Remedial) Order 2010)

(1) Chair: Mr Philip Hollobone

(2) Members: Mr Ronnie Campbell, Mike Crockart, Tracey Crouch, Mr Jim Cunningham, Thomas Docherty, Richard Drax, Bill Esterson, Damian Green, Kris Hopkins, Dr Julian Huppert, Caroline Nokes, Mr John Redwood, David Rutley, Jim Shannon, Mr Barry Sheerman, Angela Smith, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe and Jeremy Wright.

33 Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (Export Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 580))

(1) Chair: Mr David Crausby

(2) Members: Mr Richard Bacon, Gordon Banks, Andrew Bingham, Rosie Cooper, Simon Danczuk, Mr Brian H. Donohoe, David Heyes, Andrew Jones, Paul Maynard, Mr Brooks Newmark, Mr Mark Prisk, Mr Alan Reid, Lindsay Roy, David Simpson, Iain Stewart, Mr David Ward, Dr Sarah Wollaston and David Wright.

34 Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity)

Members: Mr Michael Meacher discharged and Yasmin Qureshi nominated in substitution.

35 Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Legal Services Act 2007 (Approved Regulators) Order 2011)

(1) Chair: Mr Graham Brady

(2) Members: Tom Brake, Richard Burden, David Cairns, Jeremy Corbyn, Mike Crockart, Mr Jonathan Djanogly, Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson, Robert Halfon, Mr Tom Harris, Gordon Henderson, Mrs Eleanor Laing, Jonathan Reynolds, Steve Rotheram, Mr Andy Slaughter, Rory Stewart, David Tredinnick, Mr Ben Wallace and Jeremy Wright.

36 European Committee B in respect of European Union Document No. 13840/10 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to the draft Regulation on short selling and certain aspects of credit default swaps

Members: Hazel Blears, Mr James Clappison, Mike Crockart, John Cryer, Mr Robert Goodwill, Mr Mark Hoban, Kelvin Hopkins, Chris Leslie, Anne Marie Morris, Jesse Norman, Jonathan Reynolds, Alok Sharma and Sammy Wilson.

37 European Committee B in respect of European Union Document No. 18066/10 and Addenda 1, 2 and 3, relating to the Annual Growth Survey: Advancing the EU’s comprehensive response to the crisis

Chair: Mr Peter Bone.

38 European Committee B in respect of European Union Document No. 18101/10 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to a Draft Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters

Chair: Mrs Linda Riordan.

39 European Committee B in respect of European Union Document No. 5037/11 and Addendum, relating to the Commission Communication on Removing cross border tax obstacles for EU citizens

Members: Bob Blackman, Michael Connarty, James Duddridge, Mark Garnier, Mr David Gauke, Mr David Hamilton, Mr David Hanson, Mr Andrew Love, Alun Michael, Eric Ollerenshaw, Henry Smith, Stephen Williams and Sammy Wilson.

40 European Committee B in respect of European Union Document No. 6007/11 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to the use of Passenger Name Record data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crimes

Chair: Annette Brooke.

41 Welsh Grand Committee in respect of its meetings on 30 March

Chairs: Albert Owen and Mr Dai Havard.

Reports from Select Committees

42 Education Committee

(1) The role and performance of Ofsted: Second 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 10 November 2010 (HC 570-I and -II);

(2) 16–19 participation in education and training: Written evidence, to be published

(Mr Graham Stuart)

43 European Scrutiny Committee

(1) Twenty-third Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 428-xxi);

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

(Mr William Cash).

44 Public Administration (Select Committee on)

Good Governance: the effective use of IT:

(1) Evidence, to be printed (HC 715-iv);

(2) Written evidence, to be published

(Mr Bernard Jenkin).

45 Science and Technology Committee

(1) Forensic Science Service: Evidence, to be printed (HC 855-i);

(2) Astronomy and particle physics: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Peer review: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) General correspondence: Written evidence, to be published

(Andrew Miller).

[WH, No. 87]

Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 9.30 am.

Adjournment

Subjects:

Effect on the voluntary sector of reductions in public sector funding (Barbara Keeley).

Effects of carbon floor pricing on the steel industry (Jessica Morden).

Pig farming (Mr Richard Bacon).

Rural broadband (Rory Stewart).

Government proposals for disability living allowance (John Robertson).

Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.-(Mr Brooks Newmark.)

Adjourned at 4.59 pm until tomorrow.

APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1 Employment and Training

(1) Apprenticeships (Issue of Apprenticeship Certificates) (England) Regulations 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 900), dated 23 March 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Vince Cable); and

(2) Apprenticeships (Transitional Provision for Existing Vocational Specifications) (England) Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 901), dated 23 March 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Vince Cable).

2 Income Tax

(1) Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (Rates) Regulations 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 896), dated 23 March 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Justine Greening); and

(2) Car Fuel Benefit Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 895), dated 23 March 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Justine Greening).

3 Landfill Tax

Landfill Tax (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 894), dated 22 March 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Justine Greening).

4 Ministers of the Crown

(1) Transfer of Functions (Big Lottery Fund) Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 739), dated 16 March 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Jeremy Hunt);

(2) Transfer of Functions (Media and Telecommunications etc.) Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 741), dated 16 March 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Vince Cable); and

(3) Transfer of Functions (Report on the Civil Estate) Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 740), dated 16 March 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Francis Maude).

5 Parliamentary Commissioner

Parliamentary Commissioner Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 751), dated 16 March 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Francis Maude).

6 Value Added Tax

(1) Value Added Tax (Consideration for Fuel Provided for Private Use) Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 898), dated 23 March 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Justine Greening); and

(2) Value Added Tax (Increase of Registration Limits) Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 897), dated 23 March 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (David Gauke).

Other Papers:

7 Budget Report

(1) Budget Report March 2011 (pursuant to Order today); to be printed (HC 836) (Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer); and

(2) Office for Budget Responsibility: Economic and fiscal outlook-March 2011 (by Command) (Cm. 8036) (Justine Greening).

8 Public Accounts

Treasury Minutes on the Fourteenth to Eighteenth Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2010–11 (by Command) (Cm. 8042) (Justine Greening).

9 Treaty Series (No. 11, 2011)

Declaration, done at Paris on 30 March 2007, by certain European Governments on the Launchers Exploitation Phase of Ariane, Vega, and Soyuz from the Guiana Space Centre with Final Document (by Command) (Cm. 8049) (Secretary William Hague).