House of Commons
Session 2010-12
House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Wednesday
14th December 2011
No. 239
Wednesday 14 December 2011
The House met at 11.30 am.
PRAYERS.
1 Questions to (1) the Minister for the Cabinet Office
(2) the Prime Minister
2 Statement: Bovine TB (Secretary Caroline Spelman)
3 Royal Assent
The Speaker reported that the Queen had signified Royal Assent to the following Acts under the Royal Assent Act 1967:
London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Amendment) Act 2011
Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011
Public Bodies Act 2011
Charities Act 2011.
4 Victims of Crime (Code of Practice): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for a code of practice to be observed by all those working in the criminal justice system setting out the rights of victims of crime and their families; and for connected purposes;
That Priti Patel, Mr Philip Hollobone, Charlie Elphicke, Mr David Amess, Mr Graham Brady, Mr Andrew Turner, Mark Pritchard, Mr Graham Allen, Bob Russell, Nick de Bois, Stuart Andrew and Mark Durkan present the Bill.
Priti Patel accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 27 January 2012, and to be printed (Bill 263).
5 Carry-over (bills brought in upon a ways and means resolution)
Motion made and Question put, That-
1. Standing Order No. 80A (Carry-over of bills) shall be amended as follows-
(a) in line 7, after the word ‘motion’, insert the words ‘(other than a motion relating to a bill brought in upon a ways and means resolution)’, and
(b) in line 23, at end, insert the words ‘(other than a bill brought in upon a ways and means resolution)’; and
2. the following new Standing Order be made-
‘(1) The Speaker shall put any question necessary to dispose of proceedings on a carry-over motion of which a Minister of the Crown has given notice under Standing Order No. 80A (Carry-over of bills) relating to a bill brought in upon a ways and means resolution-
(a) forthwith if the motion is made on any day before the bill is read a second time, or on the day the bill is read a second time; or
(b) not more than one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion if the motion is made at any other time.
(2) The following paragraphs of this order shall apply to any bill ordered to be carried over to the next Session of Parliament in pursuance of a carry-over motion to which paragraph (1) applies.
(3) If proceedings in committee on the bill are begun but not completed before the end of the first Session, the chair shall report the bill to the House as so far amended and the bill and any evidence received by the committee shall be ordered to lie upon the Table.
(4) In any other case, proceedings on the bill shall be suspended at the conclusion of the Session in which the bill was first introduced.
(5) In the next Session of Parliament, a Minister of the Crown may, after notice, present a bill in the same terms as the bill reported to the House under paragraph (3) of this order or as it stood when proceedings were suspended under paragraph (4) of this order; the bill shall be read the first time without question put and shall be ordered to be printed; and paragraphs (6) to (13) shall apply to the bill.
(6) In respect of all proceedings on the bill, any resolution which the bill was brought in upon in the first Session shall be treated as if it were such a resolution of the House in the next Session and any reference in any resolution upon which the bill was brought in to a Bill or Act of the present Session shall be treated in the next Session as a reference to a Bill or Act of that Session.
(7) In respect of all proceedings on the bill, the bill shall be treated as a bill brought in upon ways and means resolutions.
(8) If the bill was read a second time in the first Session, it shall be read a second time without question put.
(9) If the bill was not set down for consideration at any time in the first Session, any committal order in respect of the bill shall apply to proceedings on the Bill in the next Session (subject to paragraphs (10) and (11)).
(10) If the bill was reported from a public bill committee under paragraph (3), it shall stand committed to a public bill committee in respect of those clauses and schedules which were committed to a public bill committee in the first Session and not ordered to stand part of the bill in that Session.
(11) If the bill was reported from a committee of the whole House under paragraph (3), it shall stand committed to a committee of the whole House in respect of those clauses and schedules which were committed to a committee of the whole House in the first Session and not ordered to stand part of the bill in that Session.
(12) If the bill was read a second time in the first Session and was not set down for consideration at any time in that Session, any order of the House giving leave for a committee on the bill to sit twice on the first day on which it meets in the first Session shall apply to the first day on which the committee meets in the next Session.
(13) If the bill was set down for consideration at any time in the first Session, the bill shall be set down as an order of the day for (as the case may be) consideration, further consideration or third reading.
(14) Notices of amendments, new clauses and new schedules given in respect of parts of the bill not disposed of in the first Session shall be reprinted as notices in respect of the bill as presented and proceeded with under paragraph (5).’.-(Mr David Heath.)
The House divided.
Division No. 412.
Ayes: 266 (Tellers: Mark Hunter, Jeremy Wright).
Noes: 187 (Tellers: Tom Blenkinsop, Mr David Hamilton).
Question accordingly agreed to.
6 Third reading (bills brought in upon a ways and means resolution)
Ordered, That Standing Order No. 77 (Third reading) be amended by adding at the end-
‘(2) The third reading of a bill brought in upon a ways and means resolution may be taken at the same sitting of the House as its consideration on report.’.-(Mr David Heath.)
7 Sessionality (supply)
Resolved, That, notwithstanding the practice of the House as to the legislative authorisation of (a) appropriation of expenditure and (b) maximum numbers for defence services, legislative authorisation of appropriation of Votes on Account and maximum numbers for defence services may take place on a day not later than 5 August in the Session following that in which the founding resolutions for the forthcoming financial year were agreed to by the House.-(Mr David Heath.)
8 Consideration of estimates
Ordered, That-
(1) Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates) shall apply for the remainder of this Session as if, for the word ‘Three’ in line 1, there were substituted the word ‘Five’;
(2) Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates) shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (3) to (7) of this order;
(3) in line 1, leave out ‘before 5 August,’;
(4) in line 13, at end, insert ‘Provided that the foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall not apply on any day on which time has been allocated pursuant to paragraph (2)(b) of Standing Order No. 24 (Emergency debates).’;
(5) leave out lines 25 to 34 and insert-
‘Provided that on days on which time has been allocated pursuant to paragraph (2)(b) of Standing Order No. 24 (Emergency debates) or the Chairman of Ways and Means has set down opposed private business under paragraph (5) of Standing Order No. 20 (Time for taking private business), proceedings under this sub-paragraph shall not be entered upon until the business in question has been disposed of and may then be proceeded with for three hours, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 9 (Sittings of the House).’;
(6) in line 38, leave out ‘hour prescribed under paragraph (5)’ and insert ‘day and hour prescribed under paragraph (6)’;
(7) in line 40, leave out paragraph (5) and add-
‘(5) Any estimates on which questions have been deferred to another day in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (4) and (6) of this order, together with any questions so deferred, and all other estimates appointed for consideration on any previous day or half day allotted under this order shall be set down for consideration on the day to which the questions have been deferred.
(6) On the day to which the provisions of paragraph (2) or (4) of Standing Order No. 55 (Questions on voting of estimates, &c.) apply which falls after or on any day or half-day allotted under this order, the Speaker shall, at the time prescribed in paragraph (1) of that order, put, successively, any questions deferred under paragraph (4) of this order on any previous day or half day allotted under this order, any questions deferred under paragraph (4) of this order on the day and any questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on all other estimates appointed for consideration on any day or half day allotted under this order.’;
(8) Standing Order No. 15 (Exempted business) shall be amended, in line 41, by leaving out ‘(5)’ and inserting ‘(6)’; and
(9) Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall be amended, in line 23, by leaving out ‘(5)’ and inserting ‘(6)’.-(Mr David Heath.)
9 Questions on voting of estimates, &c.
Ordered, That Standing Order No. 55 (Questions on voting of estimates, &c.) shall-
(1) apply for the remainder of this Session with the following amendments-
(a) in line 1, leave out ‘paragraphs (2), (3) or (4)’ and insert ‘paragraph (2) or (4)’;
(b) in line 2, leave out ‘the Speaker shall at the moment of interruption’ and insert ‘, at the moment of interruption or as soon thereafter as proceedings under the proviso to paragraph (3)(b) of Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates) have been disposed of, the Speaker shall (after putting any questions required to be put under paragraph (6) of Standing Order No. 54)’;
(c) in line 9, leave out ‘6 February’ and insert ‘18 March’;
(d) in line 14, at end, insert-
‘(c) votes relating to numbers for defence services;
(d) excess votes, provided that the Committee of Public Accounts has reported that it sees no objection to the amounts and modifications to limits on appropriations in aid necessary being authorised by excess vote.’;
(e) in line 15, leave out paragraph (3); and
(f) in line 33, leave out ‘paragraphs (2), (3) or (4)’ and insert ‘paragraph (2) or (4)’.
(2) be amended with effect from the start of next Session as follows-
(a) in line 1, leave out ‘paragraphs (2), (3) or (4)’ and insert ‘paragraph (2) or (4)’;
(b) in line 2, leave out ‘the Speaker shall at the moment of interruption’ and insert ‘, at the moment of interruption or as soon thereafter as proceedings under the proviso to paragraph (3)(b) of Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates) have been disposed of, the Speaker shall (after putting any questions required to be put under paragraph (6) of Standing Order No. 54)’;
(c) in line 6, leave out the words ‘and limits on appropriations in aid,’;
(d) in line 9, leave out ‘6 February’ and insert ‘18 March’;
(e) in line 14, at end, insert-
‘(c) votes relating to numbers for defence services;
(d) excess votes, provided that the Committee of Public Accounts has reported that it sees no objection to the amounts necessary being authorised by excess vote.’;
(f) in line 15, leave out paragraph (3);
(g) in line 29, leave out ‘, and limits on appropriations in aid,’; and
(h) in line 33, leave out ‘paragraphs (2), (3) or (4)’ and insert ‘paragraph (2) or (4)’.-(Mr David Heath.)
10 Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (Un-allotted half day)
Effect of Government Policies on Unemployment
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 over-50s unemployment has risen sharply; further notes that slower growth and higher unemployment makes it harder to get the deficit down and that the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts a further rise in unemployment to 8.7 per cent., a rise in the benefits bill of £29 billion, and an increase in projected borrowing of £158 billion; 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, in light of the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts published on 29 November 2011, calls on the Government to reconsider its refusal to adopt the Opposition’s five point plan for jobs which includes creating 100,000 jobs for young people and building 25,000 affordable homes using funds raised from a tax on bank bonuses, bringing forward long-term investment projects, temporarily reversing the January 2011 VAT rise, a one-year cut in VAT to 5 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.)
Mr Alan Campbell 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. 413.
Ayes: 233 (Tellers: Yvonne Fovargue, Nic Dakin).
Noes: 307 (Tellers: Mark Hunter, Mr Shailesh Vara).
Question accordingly negatived.
11 Statutory Instruments: Motion for Approval
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Jobseeker’s Allowance (Jobseeking and Work for Your Benefit) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2012, which were laid before this House on 21 November, be approved.-(Stephen Crabb.)
Question agreed to.
12 Public Petitions
A Public Petition from residents of Park End, Middlesbrough relating to Park End Community Centre (Middlesbrough) was presented and read by Tom Blenkinsop.
A Public Petition from residents of Humberside relating to BAE Systems jobs in the Humber region was presented and read by Diana Johnson.
A Public Petition from supporters of the Stop Hinkley campaign relating to Alternatives to a Nuclear Power Station at Hinkley Point (Somerset) was presented and read by Tessa Munt.
13 Adjournment
Subject: Pedestrian access through railway stations (Paul Blomfield).
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.-(Mr Shailesh Vara.)
Adjourned at 6.39 pm until tomorrow.
_________________
Other proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
14 Devolved Administration (Armed Forces Covenant Reports) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January 2012, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 30 March 2012.
15 Passive Flues Gas Systems (Strategy) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January 2012, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 30 March 2012.
General Committees: Reports
16 Live Music Bill [Lords] Committee
Lee Scott (Chair) reported the Bill as amended.
Bill, as amended, to be considered on Friday 20 January 2012; and to be printed [Bill 264].
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).
17 Local Government Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill Committee
Members: Sir Paul Beresford, Mr Peter Bone, Tom Brake, Mr Christopher Chope, Mr Jim Cunningham, Jim Dobbin, Sheila Gilmore, Mr Philip Hollobone, Kelvin Hopkins, Tristram Hunt, Helen Jones, Robert Neill, Mr David Nuttall, Priti Patel, Henry Smith and Hywel Williams.
18 First Delegated Legislation Committee (Accession (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2816))
(1) Chair: Albert Owen
(2) Members: Mr Brian Binley, Tom Brake, Fiona Bruce, Chris Bryant, Mr Jim Cunningham, Jackie Doyle-Price, James Duddridge, Mike Gapes, Damian Green, Kate Hoey, Dr Julian Huppert, Meg Munn, Ian Paisley, Simon Reevell, Lindsay Roy, David Rutley, Phil Wilson and Dr Sarah Wollaston.
European Union Documents Referred
19 European Committee A
European Union Document No. 16175/11, relating to a Draft Regulation on safety of offshore oil and gas prospection, exploration and production activities.
20 European Committee B
European Union Documents No. 17625/11 and Addendum, relating to a Draft Regulation adjusting, from 1 July 2011, the rate of contribution to the pension scheme of officials and other servants of the EU, and No. 17627/11, relating to a Commission Communication providing supplementary information on the Commission Report on the exception clause of 13 July 2011.
21 European Committee B
European Union Documents No. EUCO 91/11, relating to a Draft Protocol on the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU to the Czech Republic, and No. EUCO 92/11, relating to a Draft Protocol on the concerns of the Irish people on the Treaty of Lisbon.
Reports from Select Committees
22 Communities and Local Government Committee
(1) The performance of the Department for Communities and Local Government in 2010–11: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1668-ii);
(2) Financing of new housing supply: Written evidence, to be published
(Clive Betts).
23 Energy and Climate Change and Environmental Audit Committees
Solar power feed-in tariffs: Ninth Report from the Energy and Climate Change Committee and Tenth Report from the Environmental Audit Committee, with written evidence, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report, and written evidence reported and ordered to be published on 23, 24 and 29 November and 1 December (HC 1605) (Mr Tim Yeo).
24 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Greening the Common Agricultural Policy:
(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1654-iii);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Natural Environment White Paper: Written evidence, to be published
(Miss Anne McIntosh).
25 Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Carbon Budgets: Government Response to the Seventh Report from the Committee: Fourth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1720);
(2) Green Economy: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1025-iv);
(3) Embedding sustainable development: the Government’s response: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Sustainable Food: Written evidence, to be published
(Joan Walley).
26 European Scrutiny Committee
(1) Forty-ninth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 428-xliv);
(2) Ministerial Correspondence: Written evidence, to be published
(Mr William Cash).
27 Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Fuel laundering and smuggling: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1504-v) (Mr Laurence Robertson).
28 Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) HMRC Tax Disputes: Sixty-first Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1531);
(2) Means Testing: Sixty-second Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1627);
(3) Preparations for the roll-out of smart meters: Sixty-third Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1617);
(4) Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Second Special Report, to be printed (HC 1723);
(5) Managing preparations for the Olympics: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1716-i)
(Margaret Hodge).
29 Science and Technology Committee
(1) The Census and social science: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1666-ii);
(2) Engineering in government: follow-up: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1667-ii)
(Andrew Miller).
30 Scottish Affairs Committee
(1) The Crown Estate in Scotland:
(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1117-vi);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Health and Safety in Scotland:
(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1344-vii);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published;
(3) The Referendum on Separation for Scotland: Written evidence, to be published
(Mr Ian Davidson).
31 Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Thirty-sixth Report, to be printed (HC 354-xxxvi) (George Mudie).
32 Statutory Instruments (Select Committee on)
Eighth Report, to be printed (HC 355-viii) (George Mudie).
33 Transport Committee
Autumn Economic Statement: Transport: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1713-i) (Mrs Louise Ellman).
34 Treasury Committee
Independent Commission on Banking: Final Report: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1534-vi) (Mr Andrew Tyrie).
35 Work and Pensions Committee
Automatic enrolment in workplace pensions and the National Employment Savings Trust: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1494-iv) (Dame Anne Begg).
[WH, No. 157]
Sitting in Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 9.30 am.
Adjournment
Subjects:
Role of zoos in regional economic development (Andrew Rosindell).
Government policy on Israel (Guto Bebb).
Educational support for dyslexia (Kelvin Hopkins).
Farepak (Jessica Morden).
Alcohol taxation (Dr Sarah Wollaston).
Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.-(Bill Wiggin.)
Adjourned at 4.59 pm until tomorrow.
APPENDIX
Papers presented or laid upon the Table:
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
1 Senior Courts of England and Wales
Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2970), dated 14 December 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Kenneth Clarke).
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
2 Education
(1) South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (Government) Regulations 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2975), dated 10 December 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Vince Cable); and
(2) South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (Incorporation) Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2974), dated 10 December 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Vince Cable).
3 Legal Services Commission
Community Legal Service (Financial) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2971), dated 14 December 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Kenneth Clarke).
4 Merchant Shipping
Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2978), dated 12 December 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Justine Greening).
5 Pensions
Local Government (Discretionary Payments) (Injury Allowances) Regulations 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2954), dated 8 December 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Eric Pickles).
Other Papers:
6 Agricultural Marketing
Report on the British Wool Marketing Board Agricultural Marketing Scheme for 2010–11 (by Act) (Secretary Caroline Spelman).
7 Government Resources and Accounts
Statement of Accounts of Returning Officers’ Expenses for England and Wales for 2010–11, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act); to be printed (HC 1683) (Mark Hoban).
8 National Audit
(1) Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Reducing Bureaucracy in further education in England (by Act); to be printed (HC 1590) (Clerk of the House); and
(2) Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Department for Health: Services for people with neurological conditions (by Act); to be printed (HC 1586) (Clerk of the House).
9 Treasury
European Union Finances 2011: statement on the 2011 EU Budget and measures to counter fraud and financial mismanagement (by Command) (Cm. 8232) (Mark Hoban).