House of Commons

House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Monday
27th February 2017

No. 115

The House met at 2.30 pm.

PRAYERS.

1 Death of a Member (Father of the House)

The Speaker made the following communication to the House:

It is with great sadness that I have to report to the House the death of the right hon. Sir Gerald Kaufman, Labour Member of Parliament for Manchester Gorton. He will be sorely missed by his relatives, by his friends, by his constituents and by his parliamentary colleagues, not to mention very large numbers of people across this country and around the world.

Colleagues, before Gerald entered Parliament, and after leaving Leeds Grammar School and Oxford University, Gerald worked as assistant general secretary of the Fabian Society and subsequently as a journalist on the Daily Mirror and for the New Statesman. Thereafter, he was parliamentary press liaison officer for the Labour party, working closely with Harold Wilson.

He entered this House, as colleagues will know, in June 1970, as the Member of Parliament for Manchester, Ardwick, which constituency he represented until 1983. Thereafter, and following boundary changes, he represented Manchester Gorton from 1983 without interruption. He was, as we know, the Father of the House. He served in this place diligently, with principle and utter dedication, for well over 46 years.

Under Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan, Gerald served as a Minister with responsibility for the environment and subsequently with responsibility for industry. In opposition, he was a long-serving and distinguished member of Labour’s shadow Cabinet, serving as shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, as shadow Home Secretary and, indeed, as shadow Foreign Secretary. Many people will know that he was a prolific writer and the author of several books, not least, and perhaps most memorably, a book entitled "How to be a Minister".

After he ceased to serve on the Front Bench, Gerald chaired, initially, the Select Committee on National Heritage for, if memory serves me correctly, a full Parliament, and then, when the Committee took its new form-the Culture, Media and Sport Committee-Gerald chaired that Committee for two whole Parliaments.

Since 2010, Gerald has been the longest serving Labour Member of Parliament, and since 2015 he has, of course, been Father of the House. In more recent years, I have been privileged to be supported by Gerald on the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, of which he was, if I can put it this way, a highly distinguished ornament.

Gerald was, of course, a passionate, eloquent, relentless, indefatigable campaigner for social justice at home and abroad. I will not pretend that he was always the easiest of colleagues. If you were lauded or praised by Gerald, you doubtless took delight in the experience; if you were attacked or denounced by Sir Gerald, you could be in no doubt on the matter. But there was that fidelity to principle, that commitment to causes and that insistence on doing his duty by his constituents, by his party and by his country.

Gerald will be mourned very widely indeed, and in expressing, I hope on behalf of the House, our condolences to his relatives and friends, I should perhaps just take this opportunity to say to the House that colleagues will have a chance to pay tribute to Sir Gerald later this week.

2 Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

3 Introduction of new Member

Gareth Snell, Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central, made the Affirmation required by law.

4 Urgent Question: Loss of confidential correspondence by NHS Shared Business Services (Secretary Jeremy Hunt)

5 Estimates Day (Standing Order No. 54(1) and Resolution, 21 February) (2nd allotted day)

(1) Supplementary Estimate 2016–17: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Subject for debate: Future flood prevention

Motion made and Question proposed, That, for the year ending with 31 March 2017, for expenditure by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

(1) further resources, not exceeding £420,838,000 be authorised for use for current purposes as set out in HC 946,

(2) further resources, not exceeding £61,363,000 be authorised for use for capital purposes as so set out, and

(3) a further sum, not exceeding £100,109,000 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.-(Graham Stuart.)

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

(2) Supplementary Estimate 2016–17: Department of Health

Subject for debate: Health and social care

Motion made and Question proposed, That, for the year ending with 31 March 2017, for expenditure by the Department of Health:

(1) further resources, not exceeding £8,716,216,000 be authorised for use for current purposes as set out in HC 946,

(2) the resources authorised for use for capital purposes be reduced by £1,193,967,000 as so set out, and

(3) the sum authorised for issue out of the Consolidated Fund be reduced by £1,038,424,000.-(Chris Heaton-Harris.)

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

6 Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval

(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Claims in respect of Loss or Damage arising from Competition Infringements (Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment)) Regulations 2017, which were laid before this House on 20 December 2016, be approved.-(Andrew Griffiths.)

Question agreed to.

(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Nursing and Midwifery (Amendment) Order 2017, which was laid before this House on 25 January, be approved.-(Andrew Griffiths.)

Question agreed to.

(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017, which were laid before this House on 18 January, be approved.-(Andrew Griffiths.)

Question agreed to.

(4) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Transport Levying Bodies (Amendment) Regulations 2017, which were laid before this House on 24 January, be approved.-(Andrew Griffiths.)

Question agreed to.

7 Adjournment

Subject: ICL Boulby Potash Mine (Tom Blenkinsop).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.-(Andrew Griffiths.)

Adjourned at 10.25 pm until tomorrow.

_________________

Other proceedings

General Committees: Reports

8 First Delegated Legislation Committee

Mrs Madeleine Moon (Chair) reported the draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2017.

9 Second Delegated Legislation Committee

Joan Ryan (Chair) reported the draft Business Impact Target (Relevant Regulators) Regulations 2017.

10 Third Delegated Legislation Committee

David Hanson (Chair) reported the draft Bereavement Support Payment Regulations 2017.

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).

11 Farriers (Registration) Bill Committee

Members: Dr Lisa Cameron and Mrs Madeleine Moon discharged and Douglas Chapman and Gerald Jones nominated in substitution.

12 First Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2017)

Members: Dr James Davies and John Penrose discharged and Sir Julian Brazier and William Wragg nominated in substitution.

13 Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Business Impact Target (Relevant Regulators) Regulations 2017)

Members: Patricia Gibson and Mrs Helen Grant discharged and Jo Churchill and Margaret Ferrier nominated in substitution.

14 Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Bereavement Support Payment Regulations 2017)

Members: Dr Paul Monaghan and Alec Shelbrooke discharged and James Duddridge and Roger Mullin nominated in substitution.

15 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 and the draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2017)

Members: Karl McCartney and Mrs Maria Miller discharged and Steve Double and Stephen Hammond nominated in substitution.

Reports from Select Committees

16 Communities and Local Government Committee

Capacity in the home building industry: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 47) (Mr Clive Betts).

17 Public Accounts (Committee of)

(1) Integrating health and social care: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 959);

(2) Correspondence with Chris Wormald, Permanent Secretary to the Department of Health relating to an update on the NHS Shared Business Services patient correspondence incident: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Financial sustainability of schools: Written evidence, to be published (HC 890);

(4) HMRC’s contract with Concentrix: Written evidence, to be published (HC 998);

(5) National Citizen Service: Written evidence, to be published (HC 955);

(6) Restoration and renewal: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1005)

(Meg Hillier).

18 Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

(1)Lessons still to be learned from the Chilcot Inquiry: Tenth Report, with an Appendix, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 656);

(2)An effective Second Chamber? The size and composition of the House of Lords: Written evidence, to be published (HC 811);

(3)Annual scrutiny of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman: Written evidence, to be published (HC 809);

(4)Follow-up to PHSO report on Driven to Despair: Written evidence, to be published (HC 904);

(5)The work of the Civil Service: Written evidence, to be published (HC 253)

Mr Bernard Jenkin

19 Transport Committee

(1) Urban congestion: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 760);

(2) Airspace management and modernisation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 996);

(3) Correspondence with Lord Keen of Elie QC, relating to claims for soft tissue injuries: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) Maritime Growth Study: Written evidence, to be published (HC 906);

(5) Vauxhall vehicle fires: Written evidence, to be published (HC 962)

(Mrs Louise Ellman).

John Bercow

Speaker

The Speaker will take the Chair at 11.30 am.

Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 4.30 pm.

Debate on an e-petition (Standing Order No. 10(1)(a))

Attacks on NHS medical staff

Resolved, That this House has considered e-petition 176138 relating to attacks on NHS medical staff.-(Oliver Dowden).

Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).

Adjourned at 5.48 pm until tomorrow.

Lindsay Hoyle

Chairman of Ways and Means

APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1 Employment and Training

Draft Public Sector Apprenticeship Targets Regulations 2017 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Robert Halfon).

2 Public Service Pensions

(1) Draft Judicial Pensions (Additional Voluntary Contributions) Regulations 2017 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Elizabeth Truss);

(2) draft Judicial Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Elizabeth Truss); and

(3) draft Judicial Pensions (Fee-Paid Judges) Regulations 2017 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Elizabeth Truss).

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

3 Damages

Damages (Personal Injury) Order 2017 (S.I., 2017, No. 206), dated 24 February 2017 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Elizabeth Truss).

4 Electricity

(1) Electricity (Applications for Consent) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 (S.I., 2017, No. 196), dated 20 February 2017 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Greg Clark); and

(2) Electricity (Necessary Wayleaves and Felling and Lopping of Trees) (Charges) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I., 2017, No. 195), dated 20 February 2017 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Greg Clark).

5 Land

Homes and Communities Agency (Transfer of Property etc) Regulations 2017 (S.I., 2017, No. 199), dated 22 February 2017 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Gavin Barwell).

6 Pensions

Judicial Pensions (Additional Voluntary Contributions) Regulations 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I., 2017, No. 208), dated 23 February 2017 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Elizabeth Truss).

7 Social Security

(1) Employment and Support Allowance (Exempt Work & Hardship Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I., 2017, No. 205), dated 23 February 2017 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Penny Mordaunt);

(2) Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit (Miscellaneous Amendments and Transitional and Savings Provisions) Regulations 2017 (S.I., 2017, No. 204), dated 23 February 2017 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Damian Hinds); and

(3) Universal Credit (Surpluses and Self-employed Losses) (Change of coming into force) Regulations 2017 (S.I., 2017, No. 197), dated 22 February 2017 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Damian Hinds).

Other Papers:

8 Charities

Report by the Secretary of State for Transport on the use of his powers under section 70 of the Charities Act 2006 (by Act) (Secretary Chris Grayling).

9 Electricity

Explanatory Memorandum to the Contracts for Difference (Standard Terms) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I., 2017, No. 112) (laid 8 February) (by Command) (Secretary Greg Clark).

10 Marine and Aviation Insurance (War Risks)

Account of Marine and Aviation Insurance (War Risks) Fund for 2015–16, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act); to be printed (HC 1051) (Clerk of the House).

11 National Audit

Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Ministry of Justice: Investigation into the Parole Board (by Act); to be printed (HC 1013) (Clerk of the House).

12 Political Parties, Elections and Referendums

First Report in 2017 from the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission on Appointment of an Electoral Commissioner (by Act); to be printed (HC 1031) (The Speaker).

13 Senior Courts of England and Wales

Explanatory Memorandum to the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2017 (S.I., 2017, No. 95) (laid 3 February) (by Command) (Secretary Elizabeth Truss).

14 Treaty Series No. 9 (2017)

Agreement, done at London on 14 November 2016, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on the termination of the Agreement of 6 October 2011 between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Cooperation in the area of Taxation, as amended by the Protocol of 20 March 2012 (hereinafter "Termination Agreement") (by Command) (Cm. 9424) (Secretary Boris Johnson).

15 Treaty Series No. 10 (2017)

Exchange of Notes, done at London on 27 July and 11 August 2015, to amend the Convention between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Canada for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Gains, signed at London on 8 September 1978, as amended by the Protocol signed at Ottawa on 15 April 1980, by the Protocol signed at London on 16 October 1985, by the Protocol signed at London on 7 May 2003 and by the Protocol signed at London on 21 July 2014 (by Command) (Cm. 9425) (Secretary Boris Johnson).

16 Treaty Series No. 11 (2017)

Protocol of Amendments, adopted by the Third Extraordinary International Hydrographic Conference, held at Monaco on 14 April 2005, to the Convention on the International Hydrographic Organization (by Command) (Cm. 9427) (Secretary Boris Johnson).

17 Treaty Series No. 12 (2017)

Agreement, done at London on 12 September 2012, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America to Improve International Tax Compliance and to Implement FATCA and Exchange of Notes, done at Washington on 3 and 7 June 2013, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America updating and amending the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America to Improve International Tax Compliance and to Implement FATCA (by Command) (Cm. 9428) (Secretary Boris Johnson).

Withdrawn Papers:

18 Electricity

Explanatory Memorandum to the Contracts for Difference (Standard Terms) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I., 2017, No. 112) (by Command) (laid 8 February).

19 Senior Courts of England and Wales

Explanatory Memorandum to the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2017 (S.I., 2017, No. 95) (by Command) (laid 3 February).

 

Prepared 27th February 2017