House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Wednesday
9th November 2011

No. 220

Wednesday 9 November 2011

The House met at 11.30 am.

PRAYERS.

1 Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Scotland

(2) the Prime Minister

2 Speaker’s Statement: Armistice Day

3 Statement: Middle East and North Africa (Secretary William Hague)

4 Travellers (Unauthorised Encampments): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to enable police forces and local authorities in England and Wales to disperse unauthorised traveller encampments with the minimum of delay; and for connected purposes;

That Simon Kirby, Mike Weatherley, Heather Wheeler, Nicholas Soames, Mark Garnier, Priti Patel, Jack Lopresti, Nigel Adams, Caroline Nokes, Karen Bradley, Robert Halfon and Paul Maynard present the Bill.

Simon Kirby accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 20 January 2012, and to be printed (Bill 247).

5 Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (Un-allotted day)

(1) Border Checks Summer 2011

Motion made and Question put, That this House notes with concern the significant reduction in the level of security and border checks at UK ports of entry in the summer of 2011; and calls on the Government to publish immediately all relevant Home Office submissions to Ministers, together with the instructions from Home Office Ministers to the UK Border Agency (UKBA) regarding passport checks in the summer of 2011 and the relevant operational instructions from UKBA executives to staff and all data collected by the UKBA on the level of checks at each port of entry since July 2011.-(Yvette Cooper.)

The House divided.

Division No. 393.

Ayes: 247 (Tellers: Mr David Hamilton, Susan Elan Jones).

Noes: 300 (Tellers: Mr Shailesh Vara, Norman Lamb).

Question accordingly negatived.

(2) Youth Unemployment, Jobs and the Economy

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House believes that the Government’s policies of cutting spending and raising taxes too far and too fast have resulted in the UK economy flat-lining for 12 months, well before the recent Eurozone crisis; notes that unemployment has reached a 17-year high and youth unemployment has hit a record level of 991,000; further notes that slower growth and higher unemployment makes it harder to get the deficit down and that the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts £46 billion more borrowing than the Government planned; further believes that with long-term youth unemployment up by 64 per cent. since January 2011 it was a mistake to abolish the Future Jobs Fund and urgent action is now required to stop a generation of young people being lost to worklessness; agrees with the IMF’s warning that ‘consolidating too quickly will hurt the recovery and worsen job prospects’ and that the Government should have ‘a heightened readiness to respond, particularly if it looks like the economy is headed for a prolonged period of weak growth and high unemployment’; and calls on the Government to adopt the Opposition’s five point plan for jobs which includes using funds raised from a tax on bank bonuses to guarantee a job for 100,000 young people and build 25,000 affordable homes, bringing forward long-term investment projects, temporarily reversing January’s VAT rise, a one-year cut in VAT to five per cent. on home improvements and a one-year national insurance tax break for every small firm which takes on extra workers.-(Mr Liam Byrne.)

Ms Rosie Winterton claimed to move the closure (Standing Order No. 36).

Question put, That the Question be now put.

Question agreed to.

Question accordingly put.

The House divided.

Division No. 394.

Ayes: 234 (Tellers: Yvonne Fovargue, Phil Wilson).

Noes: 290 (Tellers: Norman Lamb, Jeremy Wright).

Question accordingly negatived.

6 Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval

(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft International Development Association (Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative) (Amendment) Order 2011, which was laid before this House on 7 September, be approved.-(Mr Brooks Newmark.)

Question agreed to.

(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft International Development Association (Sixteenth Replenishment) Order 2011, which was laid before this House on 7 September, be approved.-(Mr Brooks Newmark.)

Question agreed to.

(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Selective Capital Increase) Order 2011, which was laid before this House on 7 September, be approved.-(Mr Brooks Newmark.)

Question agreed to.

(4) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (General Capital Increase) Order 2011, which was laid before this House on 7 September, be approved.-(Mr Brooks Newmark.)

Question agreed to.

(5) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (Area and Constitution) (Amendment) Order 2011, dated 3 October, a copy of which was laid before this House on 10 October, be approved.-(Mr Brooks Newmark.)

Question agreed to.

7 Public Petitions

A Public Petition from children from Northway Primary and Nursery School relating to Free Fruit for Young Children was presented and read by Luciana Berger.

A Public Petition from users of Bradford-on-Avon station relating to Bradford-on-Avon Station Ticket Office was presented and read by Duncan Hames.

A Public Petition from residents of Guisborough relating to Guisborough Royal Mail Delivery Office was presented and read by Tom Blenkinsop.

A Public Petition from the organising group of the Blaydon Races 150th Anniversary Campaign relating to Blaydon Races 150th Anniversary was presented and read by Chi Onwurah.

A Public Petition from residents of North East Somerset relating to Keynsham Railway Station Access was presented and read by Jacob Rees-Mogg.

8 Adjournment

Subject: International prohibition of cluster munitions (Martin Caton).

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.-(Mr Brooks Newmark.)

House adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 9(7)).

Adjourned at 7.51 pm until tomorrow.

_________________

Other proceedings

General Committees: Reports

9 Third Delegated Legislation Committee

Hywel Williams (Chair) reported the draft Al-Qaida (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011.

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).

10 First Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Community Infrastructure Levy Functions) Order 2011)

(1) Chair: Mr Edward Leigh

(2) Members: Roberta Blackman-Woods, Stephen Crabb, Mr Jim Cunningham, Nic Dakin, Mr Frank Field, Richard Fuller, Stephen Gilbert, Mr Stephen Hepburn, John Howell, Kwasi Kwarteng, Mr John Leech, Charlotte Leslie, Austin Mitchell, Robert Neill, Priti Patel, David Simpson, Elizabeth Truss and Malcolm Wicks.

11 Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme Regulations 2011)

(1) Chair: Mr Philip Hollobone

(2) Members: Mr Bob Ainsworth, Gregory Barker, Luciana Berger, Tom Blenkinsop, Tracey Crouch, John Cryer, Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson, Paul Farrelly, George Freeman, Andrew George, John Glen, Damian Hinds, Mr Andrew Love, David Morris, Mr Matthew Offord, Sir Robert Smith, Mr Dave Watts and Bill Wiggin.

12 Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Al-Qaida (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011)

Members: Oliver Colvile discharged and Caroline Dinenage nominated in substitution.

13 Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2011)

(1) Chair: Albert Owen

(2) Members: Mr David Anderson, Jonathan Ashworth, Karen Bradley, Mr Robert Buckland, Mr Wayne David, Geraint Davies, Chris Evans, Paul Flynn, Mrs Helen Grant, Mr Mark Harper, Simon Hart, Mrs Mensch, Mr Brooks Newmark, Yasmin Qureshi, Justin Tomlinson, Hywel Williams, Mr Mark Williams and Roger Williams.

14 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Legal Services Act 2007 (Appeals from Licensing Authority Decisions) (No. 2) Order 2011 and the draft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) (No. 2) Order 2011)

(1) Chair: Mr Mike Weir

(2) Members: Jonathan Ashworth, Tom Brake, Mrs Jenny Chapman, Nick de Bois, Mr Jonathan Djanogly, Robert Flello, Dr Julian Huppert, Sir Gerald Kaufman, Andrea Leadsom, Mr Elfyn Llwyd, John McDonnell, John Mann, Mrs Madeleine Moon, Stephen Mosley, Mr Dominic Raab, Mr Shailesh Vara, Mr Robin Walker and Mr Ben Wallace.

15 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (Motion in the name of Mr Peter Lilley relating to the House of Commons Members’ Fund)

(1) Chair: Nadine Dorries

(2) Members: Peter Aldous, Sir Stuart Bell, Lyn Brown, Dr Thérèse Coffey, Mrs Mary Glindon, Mr David Heath, Kate Hoey, Gareth Johnson, Mr Peter Lilley, Jonathan Lord, Mr John Randall, Angela Smith, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe, Mike Weatherley, James Wharton, Mr Mark Williams, Sammy Wilson and Mike Wood.

16 European Committee B in respect of European Union Documents No. 14357/11, Commission Communication: Schengen governance-strengthening the area without internal border control, No. 14359/11, Draft Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No. 562/2006 in order to provide for common rules on the temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders in exceptional circumstances, No.16664/10, Draft Regulation on the establishment of an evaluation mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis, with No. 14358/11, Amended proposal for a Regulation on the establishment of an evaluation and monitoring mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis, and No. 14142/10, Draft Council Decision on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania

(1) Chair: Miss Anne McIntosh

(2) Members: Chris Bryant, Mike Crockart, James Duddridge, Michael Ellis, Damian Green, Kelvin Hopkins, Steve McCabe, Ian Paisley, Stephen Phillips, Christopher Pincher, David Rutley, Dr Alan Whitehead and Phil Wilson.

17 European Committee C in respect of European Union Document No. 10052/11 and Addenda 1 to 3, relating to a Draft Regulation applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences

Members: Paul Blomfield, Michael Connarty, Mr Edward Davey, Simon Kirby, Pauline Latham, Anne Marie Morris, Ian Murray, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Chris Ruane, David Simpson, Jo Swinson, Derek Twigg and Jeremy Wright.

European Union Documents Referred

18 European Committee C

European Union Document No. 15243/11 and Addenda 1 to 4, relating to a Draft Regulation laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund covered by the Common Strategic Framework and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No.1083/2006.

Reports from Select Committees

19 Business, Innovation and Skills Committee

BIS Annual Report and Accounts 2010–11: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1632-i) (Mr Adrian Bailey).

20 Communities and Local Government Committee

(1) National Planning Policy Framework:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1526-iv);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published;

(2) Financing of new housing supply: Written evidence, to be published

(Clive Betts).

21 Defence Committee

(1) The Strategic Defence and Security Review and the National Security Strategy: Government Response to the Committee’s Sixth Report of Session 2010–12: Ninth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1639);

(2) Developing threats to electronic infrastructure:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1552-i);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published

(Mr James Arbuthnot).

22 Education Committee

(1) Attracting, training and retaining the best teachers:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1515-i);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published;

(2) The College of Social Work: Written evidence, to be published

(Mr Graham Stuart).

23 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1563-v) (Miss Anne McIntosh).

24 Environmental Audit Committee

(1) Sustainable Food: Evidence, to be printed (HC 879-vi);

(2) Sustainable development in the National Planning Policy Framework: Written evidence, to be published

(Joan Walley).

25 European Scrutiny Committee

(1) Forty-sixth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 428-xli);

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

(Mr William Cash).

26 Public Accounts (Committee of)

(1) Formula funding of local public services: Fifty-fifth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1502);

(2) Special education for 16-25 year olds: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1636-i)

(Margaret Hodge).

27 Science and Technology Committee

(1) Malware and Cyber-crime: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1537-i);

(2) Science in the Met Office: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1538-iii);

(3) Engineering in government: follow-up: Written evidence, to be published

(Andrew Miller).

28 Scottish Affairs Committee

(1) Health and Safety in Scotland:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1344-iv);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published;

(2) The Crown Estate in Scotland: Written evidence, to be published

(Mr Ian Davidson).

29 Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)

Thirty-second Report, to be printed (HC 354-xxxii) (George Mudie).

30 Treasury Committee

(1) The future of cheques: Government and Payments Council Responses to the Eighteenth Report from the Committee: Twenty-third Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1645);

(2) Appointments to the Office of Tax Simplification: Twenty-fourth Report, with evidence, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1637-I and -II)

(Mr Andrew Tyrie).

31 Work and Pensions Committee

(1) The role of incapacity benefit reassessment in helping claimants into employment: Government Response to the Committee’s Sixth Report of Session 2010–12: Seventh Special Report, to be published (HC 1641);

(2) Departmental Annual Report and Accounts 2011: Evidence, to be printed, with written evidence reported and ordered to be published on 26 July and 13 December 2010 and 27 April and 8 June (HC 1628)

(Dame Anne Begg).

[WH, No. 144]

Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 9.30 am.

Adjournment

Subjects:

Adoption rates (Jessica Lee).

Organ donation and transplantation (Paul Uppal).

Government policy on obesity (Mr Gregory Campbell).

Fire service in Halesowen and Rowley Regis (James Morris).

Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.-(Mr Robert Goodwill.)

Adjourned at 5.08 pm until tomorrow.

APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1 Animals

Animal By-Products (Enforcement) and Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2681), dated 8 November 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Caroline Spelman).

2 Energy Conservation

Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2677), dated 5 November 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Caroline Spelman).

3 Road Traffic

Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2675), dated 3 November 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Justine Greening).

Other Papers:

4 National Audit

Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on HM Revenue and Customs: The expansion of online filing of tax returns (by Act); to be printed (HC 1457) (Clerk of the House).