HOUSE OF LORDS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Die Martis 4° Novembris 2003
The House met at half-past two o’clock.
PRAYERS were read by the Lord Bishop of Oxford.
1. Oath—Christopher John Lord Grantchester, having received a Writ of Summons in accordance with Standing Order 10 (Hereditary peers: by-elections) following the death of the Lord Milner of Leeds, took and subscribed the oath pursuant to statute.
Judicial Business
2. Osmani (FC) (Respondent) v. London Borough of Harrow (Appellants)—The respondent’s certificate of public funding was lodged.
Papers
3. Affirmative Instruments—The following instruments were laid before the House for approval by resolution and ordered to lie on the Table:
(i) Draft European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Lebanon) Order 2003, together with an Explanatory Memorandum—
(ii) Draft European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria) Order 2003, together with an Explanatory Memorandum—
laid under the European Communities Act 1972.
4. Negative Instruments—The following instruments were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Value Added Tax Tribunals (Amendment) Rules 2003, laid under the Value Added Tax Act 1994; (2757)
2. Weighing Equipment (Automatic Catchweighing Instruments) Regulations 2003, laid under the Weights and Measures Act 1985; (2761)
3. National Lottery (Licence Fees) (Amendment) Order 2003, laid under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993; (2771)
4. Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2003, laid under the European Communities Act 1972. (2780)
5. Papers not subject to parliamentary proceedings—The following papers were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Report and Accounts for 2002-03 of the Parole Board for England and Wales, laid under the Criminal Justice Act 199, together with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General;
2. National Policing Plan for 2004-07, laid under the Police Reform Act 2002.
Select Committee Reports
6. House Committee—The 5th Report from the Select Committee was made and ordered to be printed. (HL Paper 176)
7. Statutory Instruments—The 30th Report from the Joint Committee was made on certain statutory instruments, including the following affirmative instruments:
Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections and Periods of Suspension) Act 2003 (Consequential Modifications No. 2) Order 2003;
Draft Education (Amendment of the Curriculum Requirements for Fourth Key Stage) (England) Order 2003;
it was ordered that the Report be printed. (HL Paper 177)
Public Business
8. Ragwort Control Bill—The House resolved itself into a Committee upon the bill; the House was resumed and the bill was reported without amendment.
9. European Union (Accessions) Bill—The bill was read a third time and passed and returned to the Commons with an amendment.
10. Sexual Offences Bill [HL]—The bill was returned from the Commons agreed to with amendments; it was ordered that the Commons amendments be printed. (HL Bill 117)
11. Criminal Justice Bill—The bill was further considered on report; amendments were disagreed to (see division lists 1 and 2); amendments were moved and (by leave of the House) withdrawn; amendments were agreed to; amendments were agreed to (see division lists 3 and 4); further consideration on report was adjourned after amendment 197B.
12. Political coverage by the media—The Lord Patten asked Her Majesty’s Government whether the range and quality of the coverage of political events by the media, in particular by the BBC, are satisfactory; after debate, the question was answered by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey.
The House was adjourned at one minute before nine o’clock
till tomorrow, half-past two o’clock.
PAUL HAYTER
Clerk of the Parliaments | 
