House of Commons
Session 2014-15
House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Tuesday
17th March 2015
No. 126
The House met at 11.30 am.
PRAYERS.
1 Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
2 Representation of the People (Candidate’s Disclosure): 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 the disclosure of convictions and sentences etc. by candidates for election to specified public roles; and for connected purposes;
That Mr Jim Hood, Mr Brian H. Donohoe, Mr Dennis Skinner, Jim Sheridan, Mr Tom Clarke, Pamela Nash, Sir Alan Meale, Mr Frank Roy, Mr Ian Davidson, John Robertson, Ian Lavery and Mr Russell Brown present the Bill.
Mr Jim Hood accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 27 March, and to be printed (Bill 189).
3 Modern Slavery Bill (Programme) (No. 3)
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Modern Slavery Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Orders of 8 July 2014 (Modern Slavery Bill (Programme)) and 4 November 2014 (Modern Slavery Bill (Programme) (No. 2)):
Consideration of Lords Amendments
(1) Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion three hours after their commencement at today’s sitting.
(2) The proceedings shall be taken in the following order: Lords Amendment No. 72; Lords Amendments Nos. 1 to 71; Lords Amendments Nos. 73 to 95.
Subsequent stages
(3) Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.
(4) The proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement.-(Karen Bradley.)
Question agreed to.
4 Modern Slavery Bill: Consideration of Lords Amendments
The Speaker announced that Lords Amendments 20, 45 and 61 engaged Commons financial privilege.
Lords Amendment 72
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 72.-(Karen Bradley.)
The House divided.
Division No. 178.
Ayes: 276 (Tellers: Gavin Barwell, Tom Brake).
Noes: 209 (Tellers: Nic Dakin, Graham Jones).
Question accordingly agreed to.
Lords Amendment 72 accordingly disagreed to.
Amendments (a), (b) and (c) in lieu of the Lords Amendment made.
Lords Amendment 1 agreed to.
It being three hours after the commencement of proceedings on consideration of the Lords Amendments, the Deputy Speaker put the Question necessary to dispose of the remaining Lords Amendments (Programme Order, today).
The following Question was put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83F).
That this House agrees with the Lords in their Amendments 2 to 71 and 73 to 95 (Question to agree with the remaining Lords Amendments).
Question agreed to and Lords Amendments 2 to 71 and 73 to 95 accordingly agreed to, with Commons financial privilege waived in respect of Lords Amendments 20, 45 and 61.
5 Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft International Tax Enforcement (Monaco) Order 2015, which was laid before this House on 16 January, be approved.-(Dr Thérèse Coffey.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft International Tax Enforcement (Macao) Order 2015, which was laid before this House on 16 January, be approved.-(Dr Thérèse Coffey.)
Question agreed to.
6 Reports from the Committee on Standards
(1) The Standards System in the House of Commons
Resolved, That:
(1) this House takes note of the Sixth Report from the Committee on Standards, on the Standards System in the House of Commons (HC 383);
(2) with effect from the beginning of the next Parliament, the following changes to Standing Orders be made:
Standing Order No. 122B (Election of select committee chairs)
Line 10, leave out ‘and’.
Line 11, at end insert ‘; and (f) The Committee on Standards.’.
Line 70, after ‘Accounts’, insert ‘or the Committee on Standards’.
Standing Order No. 149 (Committee on Standards)
Line 20, leave out ‘ten’ and insert ‘seven’.
Line 20, leave out from ‘and’ to ‘lay’ in line 21 and insert ‘seven’.
Line 26, leave out from ‘sub-committees’ to ‘and’ in line 27.
Line 34, leave out ‘five members who are Members of this House’ and insert ‘three members who are Members of this House and three lay members’.
Line 36, leave out from ‘three’ to end of line 37 and insert ‘of whom at least one shall be a Member of this House and at least one a lay member’.
Line 38, leave out paragraph 7.
Standing Order No. 149A: (Lay members of the Committee on Standards: appointment, etc.)
Line 5, at end insert-
‘() The period of appointment of a lay member shall be specified in the resolution of the House for appointment and shall not exceed six years. The appointment of a lay member is not terminated by any dissolution of Parliament.
() No person who has once been a lay member may be appointed for a further term’.
Line 6, leave out ‘first’.
Line 23, leave out paragraphs 6, 7 and 8; and
(3) notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 149A, as amended, lay members who were members of the Committee on Standards in the 2010 Parliament shall cease to be lay members at the end of the current Parliament but be eligible for re-appointment in the next Parliament, and paragraph (3) of that Standing Order shall not apply to any such re-appointment.-(Kevin Barron.)
(2) Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members
Resolved, That:
(1) this House approves the Third Report from the Committee on Standards, on The Code of Conduct (HC 772);
(2) with effect from the beginning of the next Parliament, this House approves the revised Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members annexed to that Report;
(3) the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament be amended as follows:
(a) leave out Paragraph 2 and insert
‘The Code applies to Members in all aspects of their public life. It does not seek to regulate what Members do in their purely private and personal lives’.
(b) leave out paragraph 17; and
(4) previous Resolutions of this House in relation to the conduct of Members shall be read and given effect in a way which is compatible with the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members.-(Kevin Barron.)
7 Backbench Business (unallotted)
Shaker Aamer
Resolved, That this House calls on the US Government to release Shaker Aamer from his imprisonment in Guantánamo Bay and to allow him to return to his family in the UK.-(John McDonnell.)
8 Public Petitions
A Public Petition from residents of the West Lancashire constituency relating to burial and cremation services in West Lancashire was presented and read by Rosie Cooper.
A Public Petition from residents of the constituency of Stone in Staffordshire relating to Rough Close Post Office was presented and read by Sir William Cash.
9 Adjournment
Subject: Report on asbestos in schools (Jim Sheridan).
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.-(Mark Lancaster.)
Adjourned at 6.50 pm until tomorrow.
_________________
Other proceedings
Lords Messages
10 Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill
The Lords agree to the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill, with Amendments to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Printing of Lords Amendments
11 Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill
Lords Amendments to the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 190) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 190–EN).
General Committees: Reports
12 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee
Mr Adrian Sanders (Chair) reported the draft Electronic Commerce Directive (Financial Services and Markets) (Amendment) Order 2015 and the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 2015.
13 Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee
Jim Sheridan (Chair) reported the draft Renewables Obligation Closure (Amendment) Order 2015, the draft Electricity and Gas (Market Integrity and Transparency) (Criminal Sanctions) Regulations 2015 and the draft Contracts for Difference (Allocation) (Amendment) Regulations 2015.
14 Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee
Mr George Howarth (Chair) reported the draft Scotland Act 1998 (Variation of Borrowing Power) Order 2015.
15 Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee
Mr Joe Benton (Chair) reported the draft Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2015 and the draft Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential and Saving Provisions) Order 2015.
16 Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee
Mark Pritchard (Chair) reported the draft Local Authorities (Public Health Functions and Entry to Premises by Local Healthwatch Representatives) and Local Authority (Public Health, Health and Wellbeing Boards and Health Scrutiny) (Amendment) Regulations 2015.
17 Thirteenth Delegated Legislation Committee
Mr Gary Streeter (Chair) reported the draft Restraint Orders (Legal Aid Exception and Relevant Legal Aid Payments) Regulations 2015.
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).
18 Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2015 and the draft Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential and Saving Provisions) Order 2015)
(1) Chair: Mr Joe Benton in place of Mr David Crausby
(2) Members: Angie Bray, Charlotte Leslie and Sir Andrew Stunell discharged and Zac Goldsmith, Stephen Lloyd and Jason McCartney nominated in substitution.
19 Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Local Authorities (Public Health Functions and Entry to Premises by Local Healthwatch Representatives) and Local Authority (Public Health, Health and Wellbeing Boards and Health Scrutiny) (Amendment) Regulations 2015)
Members: Jenny Willott discharged and Stephen Lloyd nominated in substitution.
20 Tenth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft False or Misleading Information (Specified Care Providers and Specified Information) Regulations 2015 and the draft Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (Special Trustees) Amendment Regulations 2015)
Members: Nick Herbert, Jenny Willott and Phil Wilson discharged and Michael Fabricant, Graham Jones and Mr Michael Thornton nominated in substitution.
21 Eleventh Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Companies, Partnerships and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2015)
Members: Simon Hart, Jason McCartney and Chloe Smith discharged and Guto Bebb, Stephen Hammond and Charlotte Leslie nominated in substitution.
22 Twelfth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Extradition Act 2003 (Amendment to Designations and Appeals) Order 2015)
Members: Fiona Bruce discharged and John Glen nominated in substitution.
Reports from Select Committees
23 Backbench Business Committee
Work of the Committee in the 2010–15 Parliament: First Special Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1106) (Natascha Engel).
24 Business, Innovation and Skills Committee
(1) Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership:
(i) Eleventh Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 804);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 804);
(2) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills relating to Post Office Mediation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 935);
(3) Government support for business: Written evidence, to be published (HC 770);
(4) Insolvency: Written evidence, to be published (HC 936);
(5) Work of the Department and Mid-Year Review: Written evidence, to be published (HC 934)
(Mr Adrian Bailey).
25 Business, Innovation and Skills and Scottish Affairs Committees
Impact of the closure of City Link on employment: First Joint Report from Business, Innovation and Skills and Scottish Affairs Committees, being the Twelfth Report of the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee and Fifth Report of the Scottish Affairs Committee, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 928) (Mr Ian Davidson).
26 Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) Society Lotteries: Fifth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 615);
(2) Tourism: Sixth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 614);
(3) Dealing with Complaints Against the Press: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1074)
(Mr John Whittingdale).
27 Defence Committee
Re-thinking Defence to meet new threats: Tenth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 512) (Rory Stewart).
28 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Work of the Committee: 2010–15:
(1) Ninth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 942);
(2) Written evidence, to be published (HC 942)
(Miss Anne McIntosh).
29 Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Local Nature Partnerships: Twelfth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 858);
(2) A 2010–15 Progress Report: Written evidence, to be published (HC 885);
(3) The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Written evidence, to be published (HC 857)
(Joan Walley).
30 Foreign Affairs Committee
(1) British foreign policy and the ‘Arab Spring’: follow-up
(i) Twelfth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1026);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 1026);
(2) Correspondence from the Hon Anson Chan on Hong Kong: Written evidence, to be published
(Sir Richard Ottaway).
31 Health Committee
Impact of physical activity and diet on health: Sixth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 845) (Dr Sarah Wollaston).
32 High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill Select Committee
High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill: Evidence and written evidence, to be published (HC 338) (Mr Robert Syms).
33 Home Affairs Committee
(1) Police bail:
(i) Seventeenth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 962);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 962);
(2) The work of the Immigration Directorates: Calais:
(i) Eighteenth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 902);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 902);
(3) Counter-terrorism: foreign fighters: Nineteenth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 933);
(4) Appointment of the Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse: Government Response to the Committee’s Twelfth Report of Session 2014–15: Ninth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1131);
(5) The work of the Home Secretary: Evidence, to be published (HC 500)
(Keith Vaz).
34 Justice Committee
(1) Criminal Cases Review Commission: Twelfth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 850);
(2) Women offenders: follow-up: Thirteenth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 314);
(3) Appointment of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons: matters of concern: Fourteenth Report, with Appendices, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1136);
(4) Manorial Rights: Government Response to the Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2014–15: Third Special Report, to be printed (HC 1124);
(5) Ministry of Justice Supplementary Estimates: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Serious Fraud Office Supplementary Estimate 2014–15: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Youth Justice: Written evidence, to be published
(Sir Alan Beith).
35 Public Administration (Select Committee on)
(1) Lessons for Civil Service impartiality from the Scottish independence referendum: Fifth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 111);
(2) Who’s accountable? Relationships between Government and arm’s length bodies: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report: Sixth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1129);
(3) NHS Complaints and Clinical Failures: Written evidence, to be published (HC 886)
(Mr Bernard Jenkin).
36 Scottish Affairs Committee
Impact of the closure of City Link on Employment: Written evidence, to be published (HC 928) (Mr Ian Davidson).
37 Standards (Committee on)
(1) Correspondence with the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Reflections of the lay members on their second year in post: Written evidence, to be published
(Kevin Barron).
38 Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Twenty-sixth Report, to be printed (HC 332-xxvi) (Mr George Mudie).
39 Treasury Committee
(1) Appointment of Alex Brazier to the Financial Policy Committee:
(i) Twelfth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1081);
(ii) Evidence and written evidence, to be published (HC 1081);
(2) Press briefing of information in the FCA’s Business Plan 2014/15:
(i) Thirteenth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 881);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 881);
(3) Private Finance 2: Government Response to the Committee’s Tenth Report of Session 2013–14:
(i) Fourth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1103);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 1103);
(4) Project Verde: Government Response to the Committee’s Sixth Report of Session 2014–15: Fifth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1104);
(5) Capital Requirements Directive IV: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Financial Conduct Authority September 2014: Written evidence, to be published (HC 635);
(7) Financial Conduct Authority February 2015: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1055);
(8) Reappointment of Dr Donald Kohn to the Financial Policy Committee: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1044);
(9) Statement by former members of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards: Written evidence, to be published;
(10) Treatment of financial services consumers: Written evidence, to be published (HC 631)
(Mr Andrew Tyrie).
40 Welsh Affairs Committee
(1) Prisons in Wales and the treatment of Welsh offenders: Fourth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 113);
(2) Responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Wales: Evidence, to be published (HC 400)
(David T. C. Davies).
John Bercow
Speaker
Sitting in Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 9.30 am.
Adjournment
Subjects:
Thames Valley technology sector (Adam Afriyie).
Financial inclusion (Mr Nick Hurd).
VAT and the tourism industry (Mr Mark Williams).
Government support for survivors of child abuse (John Mann).
Administration of Premier Motor Auctions (Austin Mitchell).
Motion made and Question proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned.-(Harriett Baldwin.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(13)).
Adjourned at 5.10 pm until tomorrow.
Lindsay Hoyle
Deputy Speaker
APPENDIX
Papers presented or laid upon the Table:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
1 Consumer Protection
Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015 (S.I., 2015, No. 542), dated 16 March 2015 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Vince Cable).
2 Dangerous Drugs
Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (England, Wales and Scotland) Order 2015 (S.I., 2015, No. 704), dated 12 March 2015 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Theresa May).
3 Financial Services and Markets
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Transitional Provisions) Order 2015 (S.I., 2015, No. 732), dated 16 March 2015 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mr David Gauke).
4 Pensions
Pension Schemes Act 2015 (Transitional Provisions and Appropriate Independent Advice) Regulations 2015 (S.I., 2015, No. 742), dated 17 March 2015 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Iain Duncan Smith).
Other Papers:
5 Energy
(1) Modifications to Documents Maintained Under Licences (EMR No.1 of 2015) 2015, with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Edward Davey);
(2) Modifications to the Smart Energy Code (No. 2 of 2015), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Edward Davey); and
(3) Modifications to the Special Conditions of National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC’s Transmission Licence (EMR No. 2 of 2015), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Edward Davey).
6 Low Pay Commission
National Minimum Wage: Low Pay Commission Report for 2015 (by Command) (Cm. 9017) (Secretary Vince Cable).
7 Marine and Coastal Access
Report on the Conduct and Operation of the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities for 2010–14 (by Act) (Secretary Elizabeth Truss).