House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Tuesday
28th February 2012

No. 268

Tuesday 28 February 2012

The House met at 2.30 pm.

PRAYERS.

1 Private Bills [Lords]: London Local Authorities Bill [Lords]: Adjourned Debate on Question [21 February], That the Bill be now read the third time

Ordered, That the debate be resumed on Tuesday 6 March.

2 Private Bills [Lords]: London Local Authorities and Transport for London (No. 2) Bill [Lords]: Second Reading

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Tuesday 6 March at 7.00 pm.

3 Private Bills [Lords]: Transport for London (Supplemental Toll Provisions) Bill [Lords]: Second Reading

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Tuesday 6 March.

4 Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

5 Urgent Question: Health and Social Care Bill (Mr Secretary Lansley)

6 Application for emergency debate (Standing Order No. 24)

Mr William Cash proposed that the House should debate the matter of legal and other action now to be taken by Her Majesty’s Government in upholding the law and protecting UK interests in respect of the nature and content of the Treaty on Stability, Co-ordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union.

The Speaker put the application to the House.

Leave given.

Debate to be held at the commencement of public business tomorrow for a maximum of three hours.

7 Eradication of Slavery (UK Company Supply Chains): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require retailers and manufacturers in the UK to make annual statements of measures taken by them to eradicate slavery and human trafficking and exploitation from their direct supply chains; to require large retailers and manufacturers to provide customers with information about measures taken by them to eliminate slavery and human trafficking and exploitation; to provide victims of slavery with necessary protections and rights; and for connected purposes;

That Fiona Mactaggart, Mr Richard Bacon, Hugh Bayley, Tom Brake, Michael Connarty, Mark Durkan, Jane Ellison, Dr Julian Lewis, Caroline Lucas, Siobhain McDonagh, Jim Shannon and Jim Sheridan present the Bill.

Fiona Mactaggart accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 23 March, and to be printed (Bill 311).

8 Estimates Day (Standing Order No. 145 and Resolution, 21 February) (5th allotted day)

(1) Vote on Account, 2012–13: Department for Transport

Motion made and Question proposed, That, for the year ending with 31 March 2013, for expenditure by the Department for Transport-

(1) resources, not exceeding £3,413,771,000, be authorised, on account, for use for current purposes as set out in HC 1756,

(2) resources, not exceeding £3,478,411,000, be authorised, on account, for use for capital purposes as so set out, and

(3) a sum, not exceeding £5,850,719,000, be granted to Her Majesty to be issued by the Treasury out of the Consolidated Fund, on account, and applied for expenditure on the use of resources authorised by Parliament.-(Mr Mark Francois.)

Subject: Transport and the economy.

Debate concluded and Question deferred (Standing Order No. 54(4)).

(2) Vote on Account, 2012–13: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Motion made and Question proposed, That, for the year ending with 31 March 2013, for expenditure by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs-

(1) resources, not exceeding £1,079,958,000, be authorised, on account, for use for current purposes as set out in HC 1756,

(2) resources, not exceeding £172,643,000, be authorised, on account, for use for capital purposes as so set out, and

(3) a sum, not exceeding £1,106,539,000, be granted to Her Majesty to be issued by the Treasury out of the Consolidated Fund, on account, and applied for expenditure on the use of resources authorised by Parliament.-(Jeremy Wright.)

Subject: Preparations for the Rio+20 Summit.

At 10.00 pm the debate was interrupted and the Question deferred (Standing Order No. 54(4)).

9 Estimates (Questions deferred)

The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 54(6)).

(1) Vote on Account, 2012–13: Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Question deferred 27 February)

Resolved, That, for the year ending with 31 March 2013, for expenditure by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport-

(1) resources, not exceeding £2,705,167,000, be authorised, on account, for use for current purposes as set out in HC 1756,

(2) resources, not exceeding £390,871,000, be authorised, on account, for use for capital purposes as so set out, and

(3) a sum, not exceeding £2,660,065,000, be granted to Her Majesty to be issued by the Treasury out of the Consolidated Fund, on account, and applied for expenditure on the use of resources authorised by Parliament.

(2) Supplementary Estimates, 2011–12: Home Office (Question deferred 27 February)

Resolved, That, for the year ending with 31 March 2012, for expenditure by the Home Office-

(1) further resources, not exceeding £66,029,000, be authorised for use for current purposes as set out in HC 1755,

(2) further resources, not exceeding £4,421,000, be authorised for use for capital purposes as so set out, and

(3) a further sum, not exceeding £173,266,000, be granted to Her Majesty to be issued by the Treasury out of the Consolidated Fund and applied for expenditure on the use of resources authorised by Parliament.

(3) Vote on Account, 2012–13: Department for Transport

Resolved, That, for the year ending with 31 March 2013, for expenditure by the Department for Transport-

(1) resources, not exceeding £3,413,771,000, be authorised, on account, for use for current purposes as set out in HC 1756,

(2) resources, not exceeding £3,478,411,000, be authorised, on account, for use for capital purposes as so set out, and

(3) a sum, not exceeding £5,850,719,000, be granted to Her Majesty to be issued by the Treasury out of the Consolidated Fund, on account, and applied for expenditure on the use of resources authorised by Parliament.

(4) Vote on Account, 2012–13: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Resolved, That, for the year ending with 31 March 2013, for expenditure by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs-

(1) resources, not exceeding £1,079,958,000, be authorised, on account, for use for current purposes as set out in HC 1756,

(2) resources, not exceeding £172,643,000, be authorised, on account, for use for capital purposes as so set out, and

(3) a sum, not exceeding £1,106,539,000, be granted to Her Majesty to be issued by the Treasury out of the Consolidated Fund, on account, and applied for expenditure on the use of resources authorised by Parliament.

10 Remaining Estimates

The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 55).

(1) Estimates, 2011–12 (Navy) Vote A

Resolved, That, during the year ending with 31 March 2012, modifications in the maximum numbers in the Reserve Naval and Marines Forces set out in Supplementary Votes A 2011–12, HC 1745, be authorised for the purposes of Part 1 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996.-(Mr Philip Dunne.)

(2) Estimates, 2011–12 (Army) Vote A

Resolved, That, during the year ending with 31 March 2012, modifications in the maximum numbers in the Reserve Land Forces set out in Supplementary Votes A 2011–12, HC 1745, be authorised for the purposes of Part 1 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996.-(Mr Philip Dunne.)

(3) Estimates, 2012–13 (Navy) Vote A

Resolved, That, during the year ending with 31 March 2013, a number not exceeding 39,350 all ranks be maintained for Naval Service and that numbers in the Reserve Naval and Marines Forces be authorised for the purposes of Parts 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 up to the maximum numbers set out in Votes A 2012–13, HC 1735.-(Mr Philip Dunne.)

(4) Estimates, 2012–13 (Army) Vote A

Resolved, That, during the year ending with 31 March 2013, a number not exceeding 121,540 all ranks be maintained for Army Service and that numbers in the Reserve Land Forces be authorised for the purposes of Parts 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 up to the maximum numbers set out in Votes A 2012–13, HC 1735.-(Mr Philip Dunne.)

(5) Estimates, 2012–13 (Air) Vote A

Resolved, That, during the year ending with 31 March 2013, a number not exceeding 42,210 all ranks be maintained for Air Force Service and that numbers in the Reserve Air Forces be authorised for the purposes of Parts 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the Reserve Air Forces Act 1996 up to the maximum numbers set out in Votes A 2012–13, HC 1735.-(Mr Philip Dunne.)

(6) Estimates, Excesses, 2010–11

Resolved, That, for the year ending with 31 March 2011, a sum, not exceeding £347,072,000, be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to make good excesses of certain grants for defence and civil services as set out in Statement of Excesses 2010–11, HC 1757.-(Mr Philip Dunne.)

(7) Supplementary Estimates, 2011–12

Resolved, That, for the year ending with 31 March 2012-

(1) further resources, not exceeding £16,430,760,000, be authorised for use for current purposes as set out in HC 1748, HC 1755, HC 1772 and HC 1783,

(2) resources authorised for capital purposes be reduced by £4,397,816,000, as so set out, and

(3) a further sum, not exceeding £7,170,139,000, be granted to Her Majesty to be issued by the Treasury out of the Consolidated Fund and applied for expenditure on the use of resources authorised by Parliament.-(Mr Philip Dunne.)

(8) Estimates, Vote on Account, 2012–13

Resolved, That, for the year ending with 31 March 2013-

(1) resources, not exceeding £205,575,869,000, be authorised, on account, for use for current purposes as set out in HC 1756, HC 1784, HC 1785, HC 1804, HC 1840 and HC 1848,

(2) resources, not exceeding £16,331,213,000, be authorised, on account, for use for capital purposes as so set out, and

(3) a sum, not exceeding £195,629,897,000, be granted to Her Majesty to be issued by the Treasury out of the Consolidated Fund, on account, and applied for expenditure on the use of resources authorised by Parliament.-(Mr Philip Dunne.)

11 Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Bill: Motion to bring in a Bill

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the foregoing Resolutions relating to Estimates, Excesses, 2010–11, Supplementary Estimates, 2011–12, and Estimates, 2012–13 (Vote on Account).

That the Chairman of Ways and Means, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Danny Alexander, Miss Chloe Smith, Mr David Gauke and Mr Mark Hoban bring in the Bill.

Mr Mark Hoban accordingly presented a Bill to authorise the use of resources for the years ending with 31 March 2012 and 31 March 2013; to authorise the issue of sums out of the Consolidated Fund for those years and for the year ending with 31 March 2011; and to appropriate the supply authorised by this Act for the years ending with 31 March 2011 and 31 March 2012.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 310).

12 Statutory Instruments: Motion for Approval

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2012, which was laid before this House on 10 January, be approved.-(Michael Fabricant.)

Question agreed to.

13 EU financial instruments for the period 2014–20

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 119(11)), That this House takes note of 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; notes that the Commission’s proposals increase resources available to the EU; agrees that the maximum acceptable expenditure increase through the next Financial Perspective is a real-terms freeze in payments; and supports the view that Innovative Financial Instruments in the next Financial Perspective, 2014–2020, should only be used to deliver a smaller EU Budget and not to supplement existing funding.-(Mark Hoban.)

Question agreed to.

14 Adjournment

Subject: Supermarkets and public land in Scotland (Mr Michael McCann).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.-(Mr Philip Dunne.)

Adjourned at 10.25 pm until tomorrow.

_________________

Other proceedings

Lords Messages

15 Public Services (Social Value) Bill

The Lords agree to the Public Services (Social Value) Bill, without Amendment.

General Committees: Reports

16 Civil Aviation Bill Committee

Sir Roger Gale (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.

Written evidence to be published.

17 Financial Services Bill Committee

Mr George Howarth (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.

Written evidence to be published.

18 First Delegated Legislation Committee

Mr Mike Weir (Chair) reported the draft Schools (Specification and Disposal of Articles) Regulations 2012.

19 Second Delegated Legislation Committee

Mr James Gray (Chair) reported the draft Social Security (Contributions) (Limits and Thresholds) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 and the draft Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating) Order 2012.

20 European Committee A in respect of European Union Document No. 16175/11 and Addenda 1 to 4, relating to a Draft Regulation on the safety of offshore oil and gas prospection, exploration and production activities

Sir Alan Meale (Chair) reported the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of European Union Document No. 16175/11 and Addenda 1 to 4, relating to a Draft Regulation on the safety of offshore oil and gas prospection, exploration and production activities; supports the Government’s view that the UK has a proven, robust offshore environmental and safety regime; and further supports the Government’s intention to negotiate a legal instrument which ensures that high standards of health and safety and high levels of protection for the environment are maintained across Europe in respect of oil and gas operations, and that any new proposals do not negatively impact upon the present UK regime.

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).

21 First Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Schools (Specification and Disposal of Articles) Regulations 2012)

Members: Heather Wheeler discharged and Richard Graham nominated in substitution.

22 Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Social Security (Contributions) (Limits and Thresholds) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 and the draft Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating) Order 2012)

Members: Andrew Percy discharged and Sajid Javid nominated in substitution.

23 European Committee A in respect of European Union Document No. 16175/11 and Addenda 1 to 4, relating to a Draft Regulation on the safety of offshore oil and gas prospection, exploration and production activities

Members: Tom Blenkinsop discharged and Mark Tami nominated in substitution.

Reports from Select Committees

24 Backbench Business Committee

Determination of business to be taken on 7 March in the Chamber and on future days, with Annex containing a transcript of representations made on 28 February, to be published (Natascha Engel).

25 Business, Innovation and Skills Committee

Stamp Price Regulation: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1841-ii) (Mr Adrian Bailey).

26 Culture, Media and Sport Committee

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

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

(Mr John Whittingdale).

27 Defence Committee

The Armed Forces Covenant in Action? Part 2: Accommodation: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1741-ii) (Mr James Arbuthnot).

28 Energy and Climate Change Committee

Fuel poverty in the private rented and off-grid sectors: Written evidence, to be published (Mr Tim Yeo).

29 Health Committee

Annual accountability hearings: responses and further issues: Fifteenth Report, with written evidence, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1699) (Mr Stephen Dorrell).

30 Home Affairs Committee

Extradition: Evidence, to be printed (HC 644-vi) (Keith Vaz).

31 Human Rights (Joint Committee on)

(1) The Justice and Security Green Paper:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1777-iv);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published;

(2) Legislative scrutiny: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Policing and protests: Written evidence, to be published;

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

(Dr Hywel Francis).

32 International Development Committee

(1) Financial Crime and Development: Government Response to the Eleventh Report from the Committee, Session 2010–12: Tenth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1859);

(2) Tax in Developing Countries:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1821-i);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published

(Malcolm Bruce).

33 Justice Committee

Post-legislative scrutiny of the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

(1) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1849-ii);

(2) Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Written evidence

(Sir Alan Beith).

34 Transport Committee

(1) Sulphur emissions by ships: Sixteenth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1561);

(2) Competition in the local bus market:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1861-i);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing Reform: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) Department for Transport Supplementary Estimate 2011–12: Written evidence, to be published;

(5) Draft Civil Aviation Bill: Written evidence, to be published;

(6) Flight time limitations: Written evidence, to be published

(Mrs Louise Ellman).

35 Welsh Affairs Committee

Wales Office 2011–12 Supplementary Estimates: Written evidence, to be published (David T.C. Davies).

[WH, No. 178]

Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 9.30 am.

Adjournment

Subjects:

Women in the Church of England (Diana Johnson).

Media regulation (Chris Bryant).

Energy suppliers and energy prices (Caroline Lucas).

Jam jar bank accounts and low-income customers (Damian Hinds).

Economic potential of clean coal (Chi Onwurah).

Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.-(Mr Philip Dunne.)

Adjourned at 1.59 pm until tomorrow.

APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1 Dangerous Drugs

Draft Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Theresa May).

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

2 Animals

Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 501), dated 22 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Caroline Spelman).

3 Income Tax

Registered Pension Schemes (Authorised Payments) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 522), dated 27 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mark Hoban).

4 National Health Service

National Health Service (Primary Dental Services) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 502), dated 23 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mr Secretary Lansley).

5 Statistics of Trade

Statistics of Trade (Customs and Excise) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 532), dated 27 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Chloe Smith).

6 Terms and Conditions of Employment

Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 462), dated 21 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Michael Gove).

Other Papers:

7 National Audit

(1) Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Department for Work and Pensions: Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Cost Reduction (by Act); to be printed (HC 1793) (Clerk of the House); and

(2) Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on HM Revenue and Customs: The Compliance and Enforcement Programme (by Act); to be printed (HC 1588) (Clerk of the House).

8 Public Bodies

Public Bodies Act 2011: Consultation on an order to give legal effect to the administrative merger of the Crown Prosecution Service and Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (by Command) (Cm. 8250) (Secretary Kenneth Clarke).

9 Reserve Forces

Reserve Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (by Act) (Secretary Philip Hammond).

10 Science and Technology

Report and Accounts of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council for 2010–11, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act); to be printed (HC 1825) (Secretary Vince Cable).

11 Treaty Series (No. 16, 2012)

Agreement, done at St George’s, Grenada, on 3 February 2011, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Grenada concerning Air Services (by Command) (Cm. 8307) (Secretary William Hague).

12 Treaty Series (No. 17, 2012)

Treaty, done at Hanoi on 12 September 2008, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (by Command) (Cm. 8306) (Secretary William Hague).