House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Wednesday
7th December 2011

No. 235

Wednesday 7 December 2011

The House met at 11.30am.

PRAYERS.

1 Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for International Development

(2) the Prime Minister

2 Tax Refunds Regulation (Review): 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 Chancellor of the Exchequer to commission a review of the timelines with which tax refunds owed to taxpayers by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs are made; as part of that review to consider the merits of making such refunds payable on the day they are calculated and applying interest and penalties to such refunds 30 days after they are payable; and for connected purposes;

That Mike Freer, Mr Matthew Offord, Andrew Percy, Justin Tomlinson, Priti Patel, Andrew Bingham, Jesse Norman, Jane Ellison and Simon Hart present the Bill.

Mike Freer accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 30 March 2012, and to be printed (Bill 259).

3 Appointment of the Chair of the National Audit Office

Agreement of the Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts signified, pursuant to paragraph 3(5) of Schedule 2 to the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that Her Majesty will appoint Professor Sir Andrew Likierman to the Office of Chair of the National Audit Office.-(The Prime Minister.)

Address to be presented to Her Majesty by Members of this House who are Privy Counsellors or Members of Her Majesty’s Household.

4 Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

Ordered, That Ms Angela Eagle be appointed to the Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in place of Hilary Benn, until the end of the present Parliament, in pursuance of Schedule 3 to the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, as amended.-(Sir George Young.)

5 Common European Sales Law

Resolved, That this House considers that the Draft Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council to introduce a Common European Sales Law (European Union Document No. 15429/11 and Addenda 1 and 2) does not comply with the principle of subsidiarity, for the reasons set out in Chapter 5 of the Forty-Seventh Report of the European Scrutiny Committee (HC 428-xlii); and, in accordance with Article 6 of Protocol (No. 2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union on the application of principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, instructs the Clerk of the House to forward this reasoned opinion to the Presidents of the European Institutions.-(Mr Crispin Blunt.)

6 Private Bills [Lords]: London Local Authorities Bill [Lords]: Consideration of Bill, as amended

Amendments 5 and 8 made.

Amendment 9 proposed.-(Mr Christopher Chope.)

Question put, That the Amendment be made.

The House divided.

Division No. 409.

Ayes: 57 (Tellers: Mr Christopher Chope, Philip Davies).

Noes: 145 (Tellers: Heidi Alexander, Andrew Percy).

Question accordingly negatived.

Amendments 10 to 12 and 14 made.

It being three hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Bill, the Deputy Speaker interrupted the business (Order of 1 December).

Ordered, That the Bill be further considered on Tuesday 13 December.

7 Adjournment

Subject: Experimentation on animals (Mr David Amess).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.-(Greg Hands.)

Adjourned at 5.38 pm until tomorrow.

_________________

Other proceedings

Changes to Notices Given

8 Banking and Financial Services (Community Investment) Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January 2012, read and discharged.

Bill withdrawn.

General Committees: Reports

9 Daylight Saving Bill Committee

Dr William McCrea (Chair) reported the Bill with Amendments.

Title amended as follows: A Bill to require the Secretary of State to prepare and publish a report on advancing the time for general purposes by one hour; to confer power on the Secretary of State to advance the time for general purposes by one hour for a trial period and then permanently; and for connected purposes.

Bill, as amended, to be considered on Friday 20 January 2012; and to be printed [Bill 260].

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 Live Music Bill [Lords] Committee

Members: Jonathan Ashworth, Sir Peter Bottomley, Kevin Brennan, Mr Don Foster, Mike Gapes, Andrew Griffiths, Dan Jarvis, Kerry McCarthy, Mrs Mensch, David Morris, John Penrose, Valerie Vaz, Mike Weatherley, Mr John Whittingdale, Hywel Williams and Mr Rob Wilson.

11 First Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Open-Ended Investment Companies (Amendment) Regulations 2011 and the draft Finance Act 2011 (Bank Levy: Amendment of Netting Agreements Provisions) Order 2011)

(1) Chair: John Robertson

(2) Members: Mr Brian Binley, Lyn Brown, Jeremy Corbyn, Jim Dowd, Fabian Hamilton, Greg Hands, John Hemming, Mr Mark Hoban, Chris Leslie, Mrs Mensch, David Mowat, Sheryll Murray, Mr Frank Roy, Alok Sharma, David Tredinnick, Roger Williams, Sammy Wilson and David Wright.

12 Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Elected Local Policing Bodies (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2011 and the draft Local Policing Bodies (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2011)

(1) Chair: Miss Anne McIntosh

(2) Members: Neil Carmichael, Mike Crockart, Jackie Doyle-Price, Richard Drax, James Duddridge, Jane Ellison, Mark Field, Mr David Hanson, Nick Herbert, Mr David Lammy, Mary Macleod, Paul Murphy, Ian Paisley, Mr Geoffrey Robinson, Mr Virendra Sharma, Mr Barry Sheerman, Mr David Ward and Phil Wilson.

13 Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Electricity and Gas (Carbon Emissions and Community Energy Saving) (Amendment) Order 2011)

(1) Chair: Mr Gary Streeter

(2) Members: Mr David Anderson, Gregory Barker, Luciana Berger, Bob Blackman, Tom Blenkinsop, Fiona Bruce, Mr Ronnie Campbell, John Cryer, Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson, Paul Flynn, George Freeman, Mike Freer, Kris Hopkins, Dan Rogerson, Mr David Ruffley, Dr Alan Whitehead, Bill Wiggin and Mr Mark Williams.

14 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Jobseeker’s Allowance (Jobseeking and Work for Your Benefit) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2012)

(1) Chair: Mr Joe Benton

(2) Members: Tom Blenkinsop, Rehman Chishti, Ann Coffey, Stephen Crabb, Chris Grayling, Glenda Jackson, Mr Pat McFadden, Fiona Mactaggart, Esther McVey, Stephen Metcalfe, Sarah Newton, Ian Paisley, Teresa Pearce, Simon Reevell, Ian Swales, Stephen Timms, Jenny Willott and Dr Sarah Wollaston.

European Union Documents Referred

15 European Committee A

European Union Document No. 12046/11 and Addenda 1 to 3, relating to a Draft Directive on energy efficiency and repealing Directive 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC.

16 European Committee A

European Union Documents No. 15813/11 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to a Draft Regulation for trans-European energy infrastructure and repealing No. 1364/2006/EC and No. 15629/11 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to a Draft Regulation on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European Transport Network.

17 European Committee B

European Union Document No. 16301/11, relating to a Commission Communication: A framework for the next generation of innovative financial instruments: the EU equity and debt platforms.

18 European Committee B

European Union Documents No. 16176/11 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to a Draft Regulation establishing the Connecting Europe Facility and No. 16499/11, relating to a Commission Communication: A growth package for integrated European infrastructures.

19 European Committee B

European Union Documents No. 9821/11, relating to a Draft Council Decision on the signature of the Agreement between the EU and Australia on the processing and transfer of Passenger Name Record Data (PNR) by air carriers to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and No. 9823/11, relating to a Draft Council Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement, No. 17697/09, relating to a Draft Council Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the EU and the USA on the processing and transfer of PNR data by air carriers to the US Department of Homeland Security (2007 PNR Agreement), No. 17429/11, relating to a Draft Council Decision on the signature of the Agreement and No. 17430/11, relating to a Draft Council Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the USA and the EU on the use and transfer of PNR to the US Department of Homeland Security.

20 European Committee C

European Union Document No. 16006/11 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to a Draft Regulation on guidelines for trans-European telecommunications networks and repealing Decision No. 1336/97/EC.

Reports from Select Committees

21 Culture, Media and Sport Committee

(1) Gambling: Written evidence, to be published;

(2) Phone-hacking: Written evidence, to be published

(Mr John Whittingdale).

22 Defence Committee

General Evidence Session with the Secretary of State: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1682-i) (Mr James Arbuthnot).

23 Education Committee

Attracting, training and retaining the best teachers: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1515-iii) (Mr Graham Stuart).

24 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

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

25 Environmental Audit Committee

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

(2) Green Economy: Written evidence, to be published

(Martin Caton).

26 European Scrutiny Committee

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

(2) Coordination of social security within the European Economic Area-Application of the UK’s JHA opt-in: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1710-i);

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

(Mr William Cash).

27 Health Committee

Professional responsibility of healthcare practitioners: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1699-i) (Mr Stephen Dorrell).

28 Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Fuel laundering and smuggling:

(1) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1504-iv);

(2) Written evidence, to be published

(Mr Laurence Robertson).

29 Procedure Committee

Debates on Government e-Petitions: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1707-i) (Mr Greg Knight).

30 Public Accounts (Committee of)

(1) Achievement of foundation trust status by NHS hospital trusts: Sixtieth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1566);

(2) Delivering aid through direct transfers to beneficiaries: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1695-i)

(Margaret Hodge).

31 Public Administration (Select Committee on)

(1) The Big Society: Seventeenth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report, and written evidence reported and ordered to be published on 10 May, 6 September and 8 November (HC 902-I and -II);

(2) Funding of the Voluntary Sector: Written evidence, reported and ordered to be published on 16 February, 15 March and 10 May, to be printed (HC 716)

(Mr Bernard Jenkin).

32 Science and Technology Committee

(1) Alcohol Guidelines: Eleventh Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1536);

(2) Engineering in government: follow-up:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1667-i);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published;

(3) The Census and social science:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1666-i);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published

(Andrew Miller).

33 Scottish Affairs Committee

The Crown Estate in Scotland: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1117-iv) (Mr Ian Davidson).

34 Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)

Thirty-fifth Report, to be printed (HC 354-xxxv) (Mr George Mudie).

35 Treasury Committee

Autumn Statement 2011: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1691-iii) (Mr Andrew Tyrie).

[WH, No. 154]

Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 9.30 am.

Adjournment

Subjects:

Government policy on Sudan and South Sudan (Mr William Bain).

Government preparations for centenaries affecting the UK and Ireland (Naomi Long).

Transparency of charges on pension plans (Brandon Lewis).

Government policy on Tibet (Simon Hughes).

Cost of Trident nuclear missile and submarine replacement (Jeremy Corbyn).

Motion made and Question proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned.-(Jeremy Wright.)

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

Adjourned at 5.15 pm until tomorrow.

APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1 Education

Draft Special Educational Needs (Direct Payments) (Pilot Scheme) Order 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Michael Gove).

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

2 Government Trading Funds

Central Office of Information Trading Fund (Revocation) Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2884), dated 29 November 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Francis Maude).

3 Universities of Oxford and Cambridge

(1) Statute, dated 23 September 2011, made by the Governing Body of the College of the Lady Margaret in the University of Oxford, revising the existing Statutes of the College (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Vince Cable);

(2) Statute, dated 25 May 2011, made by the Governing Body of Keble College in the University of Oxford, revising the existing Statutes of the College (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Vince Cable); and

(3) Statute, dated 4 May 2011, made by the Governing Body of Jesus College in the University of Oxford, revising the existing Statutes of the College (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Vince Cable).

Other Papers:

4 Medical

(1) Corporate Strategy of the General Medical Council for 2010–13 (by Act) (Mr Secretary Lansley);

(2) Fitness to Practise Statistics of the General Medical Council for 2007 (by Act) (Mr Secretary Lansley);

(3) Fitness to Practise Statistics of the General Medical Council for 2008 (by Act) (Mr Secretary Lansley);

(4) Fitness to Practise Statistics of the General Medical Council for 2009 (by Act) (Mr Secretary Lansley);

(5) Fitness to Practise Statistics of the General Medical Council for 2010 (by Act) (Mr Secretary Lansley);

(6) Report and Accounts of the General Medical Council for 2007 (by Act) (Mr Secretary Lansley);

(7) Report and Accounts of the General Medical Council for 2008 (by Act) (Mr Secretary Lansley); and

(8) Report and Accounts of the General Medical Council for 2009 (by Act) (Mr Secretary Lansley).

5 Mental Health

Report of the Care Quality Commission on Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2010–11 (by Act) (Mr Secretary Lansley).

6 National Audit

Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Cross-government: Digital Britain One: Shared infrastructure and services for government online (by Act); to be printed (HC 1589) (Clerk of the House).

7 Parliamentary Pensions (Consolidation and Amendment)

Account of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund for 2010–11, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Statutory Instrument); to be printed (HC 1301) (Clerk of the House).

8 Statistics and Registration Service

Notification to the Minister for Housing and Local Government in relation to Official Statistics produced by the Homes and Communities Agency and the Tenant Services Authority (by Act) (Francis Maude).