House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Thursday
19th January 2012

No. 249

Thursday 19 January 2012

The House met at 10.30 am.

PRAYERS.

1 Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

(2) the honourable Member representing the Church Commissioners and the honourable Member representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission

2 Business Question (Leader of the House)

3 Personal Statement (Jack Dromey)

4 Civil Aviation Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

Mrs Theresa Villiers, supported by the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary William Hague, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary Theresa May, Secretary Vince Cable, Secretary Justine Greening, Mr Secretary Moore, Secretary Cheryl Gillan and Mr Francis Maude, presented a Bill to make provision about the regulation of operators of dominant airports; to confer functions on the Civil Aviation Authority under competition legislation in relation to services provided at airports; to make provision about aviation security; to make provision about the regulation of provision of flight accommodation; to make further provision about the Civil Aviation Authority’s membership, administration and functions in relation to enforcement, regulatory burdens and the provision of information relating to aviation; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 275) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 275–EN).

5 Connecting Europe Facility

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House takes note of European Union Documents No. 16176/11 and Addenda 1 and 2, No. 16499/11, No. 16006/11 and Addenda 1 and 2, No. 15629/11 and Addenda 1 to 35, No. 15813/11 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to the European Commission’s draft regulations on the Connecting Europe Facility in the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2014–20; supports the Government’s view that at a time of ongoing economic fragility in Europe and tight constraints on domestic public spending, the Commission’s proposal for substantial increases in EU spending in this area compared with current spend is unacceptable and incompatible with the tough decisions being taken to bring deficits under control in both the UK and countries across Europe; considers that spending in this area should focus on identifying and providing genuine EU-added value, and not on spending where domestic governments and the market are better placed to act; and further supports the Government’s ongoing efforts to reduce both the Commission’s proposed budget for the Connecting Europe Facility and the overall level of spending in the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2014–20.-(Mr Mark Hoban.)

Amendment moved, in line 5, to leave out from ‘2014–20’ to the end of the Question and add ‘believes that there should be no overall increase in expenditure compared with current levels; takes note of the concerns about the Eurozone economy expressed by Standard and Poor’s that "a reform process based on a pillar of fiscal austerity alone risks becoming self-defeating, as domestic demand falls in line with consumers’ rising concerns about job security and disposable incomes, eroding national tax revenues"; calls on the European Commission to reduce its proposed budget and the proportion of the Multiannual Financial Framework set aside for the Common Agricultural Policy and to reorder the Connecting Europe Facility proposals to phase capital infrastructure components so that they enhance employment and economic growth within a more limited multi-year budget; supports action to promote EU competitiveness and review the impact of the structural funds; and calls on the Government to develop more effective deficit reduction strategies at home and across the EU by advocating urgently a credible plan for growth.’.-(Chris Leslie.)

Question put, That the Amendment be made.

The House divided.

Division No. 427.

Ayes: 182 (Tellers: Tom Blenkinsop, Nic Dakin).

Noes: 281 (Tellers: Norman Lamb, Bill Wiggin).

Question accordingly negatived.

Main Question put and agreed to.

6 Public Bodies

Motion made and Question put, That the following new Standing Order be made-

‘(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the select committee charged with reporting on a draft order for the purposes of section 11(5) and (6) of the Public Bodies Act 2011 shall be-

(a) the select committee appointed under Standing Order No. 152 (Select committees related to government departments) appointed to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department of the Minister who has laid the draft order; or

(b) in respect of a draft order laid by a Minister in the Cabinet Office, the Select Committee on Public Administration.

(2) The Liaison Committee may report that it has designated a select committee appointed under Standing Order No. 152 (Select committees related to government departments) or the Select Committee on Public Administration as the select committee charged with reporting on a specified draft order for the purposes of section 11(5) and (6) of the Public Bodies Act 2011 in place of the select committee to which paragraph (1) applies.’.-(Mr David Heath.)

The House divided.

Division No. 428.

Ayes: 257 (Tellers: Bill Wiggin, Mr Brooks Newmark).

Noes: 176 (Tellers: Jonathan Ashworth, Chris Ruane).

Question accordingly agreed to.

7 National Policy Statement for Ports: Adjourned debate (29 November 2011)

Question again proposed, That this House takes note of and approves the National Policy Statement for Ports, which was laid before this House on 24 October 2011.

Question put and agreed to.

8 Business of the House (25 January)

Ordered, That, at the sitting on Wednesday 25 January, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 20 (Time for taking private business), the Private Business set down by the Chairman of Ways and Means shall be entered upon (whether before, at or after 4.00 pm), and may then be proceeded with, though opposed, for three hours, after which the Speaker shall interrupt the business.-(Stephen Crabb.)

9 Adjournment

Subject: Future Thames river crossings (Jackie Doyle-Price).

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

Adjourned at 4.10 pm until tomorrow.

_________________

Other proceedings

Changes to Notices Given

10 Carers (Identification and Support) Bill

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

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 16 March.

11 Bail (Amendment) Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 30 March, read and discharged.

Bill withdrawn.

12 Consumer Credit (Regulation and Advice) Bill

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

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 30 March.

13 Sunday Trading (Amendment) Bill

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

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 30 March.

General Committees: Reports

14 Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee

Mr James Gray (Chair) reported the draft City of Birmingham (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012.

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).

15 Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Bill [Lords] Second Reading Committee

Members: Harriett Baldwin, Stephen Barclay, Gordon Birtwistle, Karen Bradley, Lyn Brown, Tracey Crouch, Frank Dobson, Greg Hands, Richard Harrington, Mr Tom Harris, John Hemming, Mr Mark Hoban, Chris Leslie, Mr Michael Meacher, Dame Joan Ruddock, Alok Sharma, David Simpson and Mr Dennis Skinner discharged.

16 First Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2012)

Chair: Annette Brooke.

17 Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Daventry (Electoral Changes) Order 2012)

Chair: Mr Dai Havard.

18 Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft City of Bristol (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012)

Chair: Mrs Anne Main.

19 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft City of Manchester (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012)

Chair: Mr David Crausby.

20 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft City of Leeds (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012)

Chair: Mr David Amess.

21 Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Republic of Korea Framework Agreement) Order 2012)

Chair: Mr Mike Weir.

22 Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft City of Birmingham (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012)

Members: Richard Burden, Greg Clark and Tessa Munt discharged and Mr Roger Godsiff, Mr Robert Goodwill and Andrew Stunell nominated in substitution.

23 Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft City of Bradford (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012)

Chair: Miss Anne McIntosh.

24 Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee (Policing Protocol Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2744))

(1) Chair: Mrs Linda Riordan

(2) Members: Mr David Lammy discharged and Alun Michael nominated in substitution.

25 European Committee B in respect of European Union Documents No. 17697/09, a draft Council Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the United States of America on the processing and transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data by air carriers to the United States Department of Homeland Security (2007 PNR Agreement), No. 17429/11, a draft Council Decision on the signature of the Agreement between the USA and the EU on the use and transfer of PNRs to the United States Department of Homeland Security, No. 17430/11, a draft Council Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the USA and the EU on the use and transfer of PNRs to the United States Department of Homeland Security, No. 9821/11, a draft Council Decision on the signature of the Agreement between the EU and Australia on the processing and transfer of PNR data by air carriers to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, and No. 9823/11, a draft Council Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the EU and Australia on the processing and transfer of PNR data by air carriers to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

(1) Chair: Dr William McCrea

(2) Members: Michael Connarty discharged and Kelvin Hopkins nominated in substitution.

Reports from Select Committees

26 Culture, Media and Sport Committee

(1) Gambling:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1554-vii);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published;

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

(Mr John Whittingdale).

27 Political and Constitutional Reform Committee

Recall of MPs: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1758-i) (Mr Graham Allen).

28 Privacy and Injunctions (Joint Committee on)

Privacy and Injunctions: Part of the evidence, to be printed (HC 1443-xii) (Mr John Whittingdale).

29 Treasury Committee

Accountability of the Bank of England: Response from the Court of the Bank of England to the Twenty-first Report from the Committee: Twenty-seventh Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1769) (Mr Andrew Tyrie).

[WH, No. 165]

Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 2.30 pm.

Adjournment

Backbench Business (Un-allotted half day)

Subject: Holocaust Memorial Day.

Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.-(Stephen Crabb.)

Adjourned at 5.32 pm until Tuesday 24 January.

APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1 Education

Draft Schools (Specification and Disposal of Articles) Regulations 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Michael Gove).

2 Public Bodies

Draft Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) Order 2012, and Explanatory Document (by Act), with an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Vince Cable).

3 Social Security

Draft Jobseeker’s Allowance (Domestic Violence) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Iain Duncan Smith).

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

4 Criminal Law

Syria (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 129), dated 19 January 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mark Hoban).

5 Energy

Draft Modifications to the Standard Conditions of Electricity Supply Licences (No. 1 of 2012) (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Chris Huhne).

6 Immigration

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command); to be printed (HC 1733) (Secretary Theresa May).

7 Plant Health

Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 103), dated 12 January 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Caroline Spelman).

Other Papers:

8 Justice

Government Response to the Tenth Report from the Justice Committee, Session 2010–12, on the proposed abolition of the Youth Justice Board (by Command) (Cm. 8257) (Secretary Kenneth Clarke).

9 National Audit

Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Cabinet Office: Reorganising central government bodies (by Act); to be printed (HC 1703) (Clerk of the House).

Withdrawn Papers:

10 Education

Draft Schools (Specification and Disposal of Articles) Regulations 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (laid 16 January 2012).