House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Tuesday
24th May 2011

No. 162

Tuesday 24 May 2011

The House met at 11.30 am.

PRAYERS.

1 Questions to (1) the Deputy Prime Minister

(2) the Attorney General

2 Urgent Question: Libya (Nick Harvey)

3 Statement: Green Investment Bank (Secretary Vince Cable)

4 Autism (Quality Standards): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the Secretary of State to make a referral to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to develop and publish quality standards for autism spectrum disorders; and for connected purposes;

That Mr Robert Buckland, Roger Williams, David Mowat, Annette Brooke, Andrew Griffiths, Dr Julian Huppert, Robert Flello, Jonathan Reynolds, Damian Hinds, Justin Tomlinson, Charlotte Leslie and Nicola Blackwood present the Bill.

Mr Robert Buckland accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 25 November, and to be printed (Bill 194).

5 Backbench Business (28th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))

(1) Eurozone Financial Assistance

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House notes with concern that UK taxpayers are potentially being made liable for bail-outs of Eurozone countries when the UK opted to remain outside the Euro and, despite agreement in May 2010 that the EU-wide European Financial Stability Mechanism (EFSM) of €60 billion would represent only 12 per cent. of the non-IMF contribution with the remaining €440 billion being borne by the Eurozone through the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), that the EFSM for which the UK may be held liable is in fact being drawn upon to the same or a greater extent than the EFSF; further notes that the European Scrutiny Committee has stated its view that the EFSM is legally unsound; and requires the Government to place the EFSM on the agenda of the next meeting of the Council of Ministers or the European Council and to vote against continued use of the EFSM unless a Eurozone-only arrangement which relieves the UK of liability under the EFSM has by then been agreed.-(Mark Reckless.)

6 Royal Assent

The Deputy Speaker reported that the Queen had signified Royal Assent to the following Measures under the Royal Assent Act 1967:

Care of Cathedrals Measure 2011

Ecclesiastical Fees (Amendment) Measure 2011

Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011

7 Backbench Business (28th allotted day) (resumed)

The House resumed the debate.

Amendment moved, in line 8, to leave out from ‘unsound’ to the end of the Question and add ‘urges the Government to raise the issue of the EFSM at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers or the European Council; and supports any measures which would lead to an agreement for a Eurozone-only arrangement.’.-(Chris Heaton-Harris.)

Question put, That the Amendment be made.

The House divided.

Division No. 286.

Ayes: 267 (Tellers: James Duddridge, Stephen Crabb).

Noes: 46 (Tellers: Mr Peter Bone, Mrs Anne Main).

Question accordingly agreed to.

Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to.

Resolved, That this House notes with concern that UK taxpayers are potentially being made liable for bail-outs of Eurozone countries when the UK opted to remain outside the Euro and, despite agreement in May 2010 that the EU-wide European Financial Stability Mechanism (EFSM) of €60 billion would represent only 12 per cent. of the non-IMF contribution with the remaining €440 billion being borne by the Eurozone through the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), that the EFSM for which the UK may be held liable is in fact being drawn upon to the same or a greater extent than the EFSF; further notes that the European Scrutiny Committee has stated its view that the EFSM is legally unsound; urges the Government to raise the issue of the EFSM at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers or the European Council; and supports any measures which would lead to an agreement for a Eurozone-only arrangement.

(2) Matters to be raised before the forthcoming Adjournment

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered matters to be raised before the forthcoming Adjournment.-(Mr Peter Bone.)

At 7.00 pm the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(3)).

8 Draft Defamation Bill (Joint Committee)

Resolved, That this House concurs with the Lords Message of 23 May that, notwithstanding the Resolution of this House of 24 March, it be an instruction to the Joint Committee on the Draft Defamation Bill that it should report on the draft Bill by 31 October.-(Mr Robert Goodwill.)

9 Draft Detention of Terrorist Suspects (Temporary Extension) Bills (Joint Committee)

Resolved, That this House concurs with the Lords Message of 23 May that, notwithstanding the Resolution of this House of 15 March, it be an instruction to the Joint Committee on the Draft Detention of Terrorist Suspects (Temporary Extension) Bills that it should report on the draft Bills by 23 June.-(Mr Robert Goodwill.)

10 Information Systems

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 119(11)), That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 14436/10 and Addenda 1 and 2, a draft directive on attacks against information systems, repealing Council Framework Decision 2005/222/JHA; and supports the Government’s aim of working with other Member States to tackle the threat from cyber crime.-(Mr Robert Goodwill.)

Question agreed to.

11 Space Strategy

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 119(11)), That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 8693/11 and Addenda 1 to 6, relating to a Commission Communication: Towards a space strategy for the European Union that benefits its citizens; and supports the Government’s aims for the proposal, which include ensuring focus on resolving the current EU space programmes, avoiding any pre-judgement of the negotiations on the EU budget from 2014 onwards, and seeking further analysis to demonstrate clear added value in any new EU actions.-(Mr Robert Goodwill.)

Question agreed to.

12 Public Petitions

A Public Petition from the business owners and customers of Ablewell Street, Walsall, relating to Parking Restrictions (Ablewell Street, Walsall) was presented and read by Valerie Vaz.

13 Adjournment

Subject: School places in Finchley (Mike Freer).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.-(James Duddridge.)

Adjourned at 7.21 pm until Tuesday 7 June (Order, 4 May).

_________________

Other proceedings

Lords Messages

14 Fixed-term Parliaments Bill

The Lords agree to the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill, with Amendments to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.

15 Postal Services Bill

The Lords agree to the Postal Services Bill, with Amendments to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.

Printing of Lords Amendments

16 Fixed-term Parliaments Bill

Lords Amendments to the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill to be considered on Tuesday 7 June, and to be printed (Bill 195) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 195–EN).

17 Postal Services Bill

Lords Amendments to the Postal Services Bill to be considered on Tuesday 7 June, and to be printed (Bill 196) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 196–EN).

Changes to Notices Given

18 Local Referendums Bill

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

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

19 Recall of Elected Representatives Bill

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

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

20 Planning (Developer Bonds) Bill

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

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

General Committees: Reports

21 Welfare Reform Bill Committee

Mr James Gray (Chair) reported:

(1) written evidence submitted to the Committee; and

(2) the Bill with Amendments.

Written evidence (reported on 22, 24, 29 and 31 March, 5, 26 and 28 April, 3, 10, 12 and 17 May and today) to be printed.

Bill, as amended, to be considered on Tuesday 7 June; and to be printed (Bill 197).

22 First Delegated Legislation Committee

Sandra Osborne (Chair) reported the Export Control (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 1127).

23 European Committee B in respect of European Union Document No. 11961/10, relating to the Green Paper on policy options for progress towards a European Contract Law for consumers and businesses

Mr Charles Walker (Chair) reported the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of European Union Document No. 11961/10, a Green Paper from the European Commission on policy options for progress towards a European Contract Law for consumers and businesses; supports the Government’s response to the Green Paper, sent to the European Commission on 10 February 2011; and agrees with the terms of that response.

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).

24 First Delegated Legislation Committee (Export Control (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 1127))

Members: Lyn Brown, Dr Thérèse Coffey and Richard Drax discharged and Simon Hart, John Howell and David Wright nominated in substitution.

25 Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Water Industry (Schemes for Adoption of Private Sewers) Regulations 2011)

Members: Jonathan Evans discharged and Neil Carmichael nominated in substitution.

26 European Committee A in respect of European Union Document No. 12371/10, relating to the Commission Communication on the freedom for Member States to decide on the cultivation of genetically modified crops, Unnumbered Supplementary Explanatory Memorandum dated 12 April 2011, submitted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, relating to a Commission Recommendation on guidelines for the development of national co-existence measure to avoid the unintended presence of GMOs in conventional and organic crops and to a Draft Regulation amending Directive 2001/18/EC as regards the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs in their territory to avoid the unintended presence of GMOs in conventional and organic crops and to a Draft Regulation amending Directive 2001/18/EC as regards the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs in their territory

Members: Michael Connarty discharged and Tony Lloyd nominated in substitution.

27 European Committee A in respect of European Union Document No. 16348/10, relating to the Commission Communication: The CAP towards 2020-meeting the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the future

Members: Kelvin Hopkins discharged and Julie Elliott nominated in substitution.

28 European Committee B in respect of European Union Document No. 11961/10, relating to the Green Paper on policy options for progress towards a European Contract Law for consumers and businesses

Members: Stephen Phillips discharged and Rebecca Harris nominated in substitution.

Reports from Select Committees

29 Business, Innovation and Skills Committee

The Future of Higher Education:

(1) Evidence, to be printed (HC 885-vii);

(2) Written evidence, to be published

(Mr Adrian Bailey).

30 Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Football Governance: Written evidence, to be published (Mr John Whittingdale).

31 Culture, Media and Sport and Welsh Affairs Committees

Pre-appointment hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate for the Chairman of the S4C Authority: First Joint Report, being the Fifth Report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee and the Sixth Report from the Welsh Affairs Committee, with evidence, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1061-I and -II) (David T.C. Davies).

32 Defence Committee

The Strategic Defence and Security Review and the National Security Strategy: Evidence, to be printed (HC 761-v) (Mr James Arbuthnot).

33 Energy and Climate Change Committee

(1) The UK’s Energy Supply: Security or Independence?: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1065-i);

(2) Implications for the North Sea oil and gas industry of the Budget 2011: Written evidence, to be published

(Mr Tim Yeo).

34 European Scrutiny Committee

(1) Thirty-first Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 428-xxviii);

(2) Enhanced cooperation for the EU Patent: the Committee’s evidence session with Baroness Wilcox: Thirty-second Report, with written evidence, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 942);

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

(Mr William Cash).

35 Home Affairs Committee

(1) The work of UKBA (November 2010–March 2011): Ninth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 929);

(2) The New Landscape of Policing: Evidence, to be printed (HC 939-iv)

(Keith Vaz).

36 Human Rights (Joint Committee on)

(1) The Implementation of the Right of Disabled People to Independent Living: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1074-i);

(2) Remedial Orders: Written evidence, to be published

(Dr Hywel Francis).

37 Justice Committee

The role of the probation service: Evidence, to be printed (HC 519-ix) (Sir Alan Beith).

38 Public Administration (Select Committee on)

(1) Smaller Government: Bigger Society?: Evidence, to be printed (HC 902-i);

(2) Good Governance: the Effective Use of IT: Written evidence, to be published

(Mr Bernard Jenkin).

39 Transport Committee

(1) The Coastguard, emergency towing vessels and the Maritime Incident Response Group:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 948-iv);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published;

(2) High Speed Rail: Written evidence, to be published

(Mrs Louise Ellman).

40 Treasury Committee

Independent Commission on Banking: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1069-i) (Mr Andrew Tyrie).

[WH, No. 105]

Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 9.30 am.

Adjournment

Subjects:

Post Office Card Account (Sarah Newton).

Night flights at Heathrow (Mary Macleod).

Treatment of Christians around the world (David Simpson).

Tees Valley rail transport (Ian Swales).

Land stability in the Ironbridge Gorge (David Wright).

Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.-(Jeremy Wright.)

Adjourned at 5.08 pm until Tuesday 7 June (Order, 4 May).

APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1 Climate Change

Draft Carbon Budget Order 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Chris Huhne).

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

2 Customs

Export Control (Syria and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 1304), dated 23 May 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Vince Cable).

3 National Debt

FIRST Option Bonds (Exchange of Securities) Rules 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 1306), dated 23 May 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mark Hoban).

Other Papers:

4 Business, Innovation and Skills

Draft Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill (by Command) (Cm. 8080) (Secretary Vince Cable).

5 Government Trading Funds

Treasury Minute, dated 24 May 2011, relating to Buying Solutions Trading Fund (by Act) (Danny Alexander).

Note: This is the last text page of CJ 267 Part I: because the 2010–12 Session is long the rest of the Session (and the Indexes) will be in Part II.