House of Commons
Session 2010-12
House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Monday
5th March 2012
No. 271
Monday 5 March 2012
The House met at 2.30 pm.
PRAYERS.
1 Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
2 Statement: European Council (Prime Minister)
3 Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (Un-allotted day)
(1) Jobs and growth in a low-carbon economy
Motion made and Question put, That this House believes that the achievements of the previous administration and cross-party support for the Climate Change Act 2008 underpin the attractiveness of the UK to green investment; notes this Government’s promise to be the greenest Government ever; regrets that under the present Government investment in clean energy, particularly wind power, has declined and the UK has fallen to thirteenth in the world for investment in green growth; further regrets the delays to the Green Investment Bank, the lack of clarity over financing of the Green Deal, the uncertainty surrounding funding for carbon capture and storage, the chaotic mismanagement of the cuts to the feed-in tariff for solar power, and the undermining of zero-carbon homes; further believes that the effect of these policy failures, mixed signals from the Government and open hostility from Government backbench Members to action to cut carbon emissions have exacerbated investor uncertainty, hit small and medium-sized businesses, and reduced the UK’s ability to attract, retain and increase investment; rejects the idea that the transition to a low-carbon economy is a burden and believes it has the potential to be a major source of jobs and growth for the UK; and calls on the Government to bring forward an active industrial strategy for low-carbon growth by providing a stable policy framework to unlock private investment, improving public procurement, developing a low-carbon skills strategy, rebalancing the economy to support growth in the regions and encourage manufacturing, and engaging communities in the transition to a low-carbon economy.-(Caroline Flint.)
The House divided.
Division No. 482.
Ayes: 218 (Tellers: Mr David Hamilton, Jonathan Ashworth).
Noes: 275 (Tellers: Mark Hunter, Mr Philip Dunne).
Question accordingly negatived.
(2) Living standards
Motion made and Question put, That this House believes that next month’s Budget should include a real plan for jobs and growth in order to boost the stalled economy, help hard-pressed families, pensioners and small businesses, bring down unemployment, and so ensure that the deficit is brought down and done so in a fair way; notes that while the banks are receiving a tax cut this year, the Institute for Fiscal Studies analysis shows that families with children will lose an average of £580 per year from tax and benefit changes coming into effect in 2012–13; further notes that up to 200,000 couples with children who work part-time face losing all their working tax credit of up to £3,870 per year from April 2012 if they cannot increase their working hours to 24 hours per week, further squeezing family living standards; further recognises that, in addition to ending the principle of universal child benefit, the Government’s unfair and ill-thought-through changes to child benefit will mean that a family with two earners each earning £40,000 would keep all its child benefit, but a single-earner family on £43,000 would lose it all, at a cost of £2,450 per year for a family with three children; and calls on the Chancellor to use extra revenue from tackling tax avoidance to cancel his changes to eligibility rules for working tax credits and announce in the Budget an immediate and urgent review of his changes to child benefit, to report before they come into effect in January 2013.-(Rachel Reeves.)
The House divided.
Division No. 483.
Ayes: 220 (Tellers: Phil Wilson, Chris Ruane).
Noes: 284 (Tellers: Greg Hands, Mark Hunter).
Question accordingly negatived.
4 Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill (Allocation of Time)
Ordered, That, at the sitting on Tuesday 6 March, proceedings on the adjourned debate on Second Reading of the Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion two hours after their commencement at that day’s sitting.-(Jeremy Wright.)
5 Business of the House (7 March)
Ordered, That, at the sitting on Wednesday 7 March, paragraph (2) of Standing Order No. 31 (Questions on amendments) shall apply to the Motion in the name of Mr Nigel Dodds as if the day were an Opposition Day; proceedings on the Motion may continue, though opposed, for three hours and shall then lapse if not previously disposed of; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.-(Jeremy Wright.)
6 Sittings of the House (20 March)
Ordered, That on Tuesday 20 March the House shall meet at a quarter to Ten o’clock and no committees shall meet earlier than half past Three o’clock.-(Jeremy Wright.)
7 Adjournment
Subject: Golden anniversary of Livingston New Town (Graeme Morrice).
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.-(Jeremy Wright.)
Adjourned at 10.41 pm until tomorrow.
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Other proceedings
Disqualification of a Member
8 Disqualification of a Member
Notification, laid upon the Table by the Speaker, That Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer had on Friday 2 March appointed Marsha Singh, Member for Bradford West, to the office of Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern.
Lords Messages
9 House of Lords (Amendment) Bill [Lords]
The Lords have passed a Bill to make provision for permanent leave of absence from the House of Lords; and to provide for the expulsion of members of the House of Lords in specified circumstances; to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Changes to Notices Given
10 Illegally Logged Timber (Prohibition of Import, Sale or Distribution) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 9 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 April.
11 Tax and Financial Transparency Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 9 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 April.
General Committees: Reports
12 European Committee B in respect of European Union Documents No. 15936/10, No. 16219/10 and No. 16392/10, relating to the EU Citizenship Reports 2010, and No. 18122/10, relating to the Commission Green Paper on less bureaucracy for citizens: promoting free movement of public documents and recognition of effects of civil status records
Mr Jim Hood (Chair) reported the following Resolution:
That the Committee takes note of European Union Documents No. 15936/10, No. 16219/10 and No. 16392/10, relating to the EU Citizenship Reports 2010, and No. 18122/10, relating to the Commission Green Paper on less bureaucracy for citizens: promoting free movement of public documents and recognition of effects of civil status records; and supports the Government’s view that European citizenship should be understood as defined in the Treaties, which make clear that citizenship of the EU is additional to and does not replace national citizenship; recognises that the Government is approaching each measure individually to ensure it is proportionate, effective and offers value for money; and further notes that the Government is supportive of the objectives of the Green Paper but does not consider that the Paper is able to provide evidence of the need for change in some areas, and that much can be achieved through the sharing of best practice and closer co-operation between Member States.
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).
13 Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Jobseeker’s Allowance (Domestic Violence) (Amendment) Regulations 2012)
Members: Jeremy Lefroy discharged and Fiona Bruce nominated in substitution.
14 European Committee C in respect of 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
Members: Mr Gordon Marsden discharged and Chi Onwurah nominated in substitution.
Reports from Select Committees
15 Administration Committee
(1) Visitor Access and Facilities in the House of Commons: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Television: Rules of Coverage: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on 5 March, to be published
(Sir Alan Haselhurst).
16 Communities and Local Government Committee
Park Homes: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1865-i) (Clive Betts).
17 Draft House of Lords Reform Bill (Joint Committee on)
Draft House of Lords Reform Bill: Written evidence, to be published (Mr Tom Clarke).
18 Education Committee
Attracting, training and retaining the best teachers: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1515-vi) (Mr Graham Stuart).
19 Public Accounts (Committee of)
Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission-Structured cost reduction: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1874-i) (Margaret Hodge).
APPENDIX
Papers delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on Friday 2 March under Standing Orders No. 158 and No. 159:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
1 Criminal Law
Syria (European Union Financial Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 639), dated 1 March 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mark Hoban).
2 Urban Development
(1) Thurrock Development Corporation (Transfer of Property, Rights and Liabilities) Order 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 534), dated 27 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Eric Pickles); and
(2) Urban Development Corporations (Planning Functions) Order 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 535), dated 27 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Eric Pickles).
Other Papers:
3 Treaty Series (No. 19, 2012)
Agreement, done at London on 31 March 2010, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Grenada for the Exchange of Information relating to Tax Matters (by Command) (Cm. 8311) (Secretary William Hague).
4 Treaty Series (No. 20, 2012)
Convention, done at Joensuu (Finland) on 28 August 2003, on the European Forest Institute (by Command) (Cm. 8310) (Secretary William Hague).
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 5 March:
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
5 Criminal Law
(1) Draft Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Notification Requirements) (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Theresa May); and
(2) draft Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Remedial) Order 2012, and a statement of representations (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Theresa May).
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
6 County Courts
Allocation and Transfer of Proceedings (Amendment) Order 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 642), dated 28 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Kenneth Clarke).
7 Education
(1) Education (Induction Arrangements for School Teachers) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 513), dated 28 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Michael Gove);
(2) Education (Teacher Student Loans) (Repayment etc) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 555), dated 28 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Michael Gove); and
(3) Teachers’ Disciplinary (England) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 560), dated 28 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Michael Gove).
8 Environmental Protection
Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 630), dated 28 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Caroline Spelman).
9 Health and Safety
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 632), dated 27 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Iain Duncan Smith).
10 National Health Service
National Health Service Pension Scheme and Injury Benefits (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 610), dated 28 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Mr Secretary Lansley).
11 Police
Police Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 640), dated 28 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Theresa May).
12 Rating and Valuation
(1) Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rating (Demand Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 538), dated 27 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Eric Pickles); and
(2) Non-Domestic Rating (Cancellation of Backdated Liabilities) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 537), dated 27 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Eric Pickles).
13 Town and Country Planning
Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation) (England) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 605), dated 28 February 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Eric Pickles).
Other Papers:
14 Defence
Ministry of Defence Minute, dated 5 March 2012, concerning the gifting of equipment to the Pakistan Military (by Command) (Secretary Philip Hammond).
15 Human Rights
Government Response to the Nineteenth Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Session 2010–12, on Proposal for the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Remedial) Order 2011 (by Command) (Cm. 8293) (Secretary Theresa May).
16 Justice
Memorandum to the Justice Committee on Post-legislative Assessment of the Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 (by Command) (Cm. 8296) (Secretary Kenneth Clarke).
17 Parliamentary Standards
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: The MPs’ Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses: Fourth Edition, including Response to the First Report of the Committee on Members’ Expenses, Session 2010–12 (by Act); to be printed (HC 1868) (The Speaker).
18 Senior Courts of England and Wales
Civil Courts (Amendment) Order 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 643), dated 1 March 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Kenneth Clarke).