The House met at half-past Two o'clock.

1    Housing and Regeneration Bill,—Mr Roger Gale reported from the Housing and Regeneration Bill Committee:

(1) That it had come to the following Resolution: That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication; and

(2) Certain Memoranda.

Memoranda to lie upon the Table and be published.

2    Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mr Eric Illsley reported from the Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2007.

Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.

3    European Standing Committee,—John Cummings reported from a European Standing Committee the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of European Union Document No. 11559/07, Draft Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No. 2004/2003 on the regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding; and agrees that the Government should support its adoption.

Resolution to lie upon the Table.

Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.

4    European Affairs,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House has considered the matter of European affairs—(Secretary David Miliband);

Mr William Cash rose in his place and claimed to move, That the Question be now put.

And the Question being put, That the Question be now put:—It was agreed to.

And the Question being accordingly put;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Wayne David, Mr Dave Watts: 276.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr David Wilshire, Mr Peter Bone: 17.

So the Question was agreed to.

Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of European affairs.

5    Section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees) and Order [12th November], That this House takes note with approval of the Government's assessment as set out in the Pre-Budget Report 2007 for the purposes of section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993—(Liz Blackman):—It was agreed to.

6    Housing,—Ordered, That the Home Information Pack (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3301), dated 22nd November 2007, be referred to a Delegated Legislation Committee.—(Liz Blackman.)

7    European Communities,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Agreement on Enlargement of the European Economic Area) Order 2007, which was laid before this House on 15th November, be approved—(Liz Blackman):—It was agreed to.

8    Immigration,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2007, which was laid before this House on 21st November, be approved—(Liz Blackman):—It was agreed to.

9    Employment Agencies, Etc.,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations 2007, which were laid before this House on 28th November, be approved—(Liz Blackman):—It was agreed to.

10    Public Petitions,—Public Petitions from—

(1) Mr Brian Kewley, Postmaster, and the customers of Lower Heswall Post Office, Wirral, relating to Post Office closures (Wirral);

(2) Sally Ann Cooke relating to Family Courts (Reform);

(3) residents of Little Harrowden, Great Harrowden, Orlingbury, Pytchely and surrounding areas relating to Post Office closures (Northamptonshire); and

(4) those affected by the closure of the Elm Grove Post Office in Brighton relating to Post Office closures (Brighton)

were presented and read.

11    Adjournment.

Subject: Funding for schools in Shropshire (Mr Owen Paterson).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Liz Blackman.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till thirteen minutes to Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.

Michael J. Martin

Speaker

Mr Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Eleven o'clock.

APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1    Cinemas and Film,—Films (Certification) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3478), dated 10th December 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell].

2    Damages,—(1) Damages for Bereavement (Variation of Sum) (England and Wales) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3489); and

(2) Damages for Bereavement (Variation of Sum) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3488),

dated 10th December 2007 [by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

3    Environmental Protection,—Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3454), dated 6th December 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

Other Papers:

4    Children, Schools and Families,—Paper, entitled The Children's Plan: Building brighter futures [by Command] [Cm. 7280] [Secretary Ed Balls].

5    International Development,—Department for International Development: Autumn Performance Report 2007 [by Command] [Cm. 7274] [Mr Secretary Alexander].

6    Local Government,—Financial Statement of the South Bank Centre for 2006-07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act] [Secretary James Purnell].

7    Transport,—(1) Department for Transport Minute, dated 11th December 2007, concerning non-statutory contingent liabilities in respect of an indemnity to be given by the Secretary of State for Transport to Network Rail relating to the operation of Crossrail services [by Command]; and

(2) Department for Transport: Autumn Performance Report 2007 [by Command] [Cm. 7266]

[Secretary Ruth Kelly].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1    Planning Bill,—The Speaker has appointed Sir John Butterfill and Mr Eric Illsley Chairmen of the Planning Bill Committee.

2    Draft Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Amendment) Regulations 2007,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Margaret Beckett, Ms Karen Buck, Barbara Follett, Mr Fabian Hamilton, Ms Patricia Hewitt, Mr Stewart Jackson, Ms Diana R. Johnson, Barbara Keeley, Robert Neill, Sandra Osborne, Richard Ottaway, Mike Penning, Ms Gisela Stuart, Andrew Stunell, Jo Swinson, Mr Shailesh Vara and Mrs Betty Williams from the Sixth Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the Regulations).

Grand Committees

3    Welsh Grand Committee,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Martin Caton Chairman of the Welsh Grand Committee in respect of its meetings on 12th December.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1    Administration,—Record of the Administration Committee's discussions at its meetings on 13th November, 27th November and 11th December 2007 [Mr Frank Doran].

2    Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform,—Creating a Higher Value-added Economy: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Committee; to be printed [No. 168-i] [Peter Luff].

3    Communities and Local Government,—Existing Housing and Climate Change: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Communities and Local Government Committee; to be printed [No. 70-iii] [Dr Phyllis Starkey].

4    Defence,—(1) The Iran hostages incident: the lessons learned: Fourth Report from the Defence Committee, with Memorandum; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 181];

(2) Medical Care for the Armed Forces: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published; and

(3) The Future of NATO and European Defence: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[Mr James Arbuthnot].

5    Environmental Audit,—2007 Pre-Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environmental Audit Committee; to be printed [No. 149-ii] [Mr Tim Yeo].

6    Home Affairs,—(1) The Government's Counter-Terrorism Proposals: First Report from the Home Affairs Committee, with Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 43]; and

(2) The Government's Counter-Terrorism Bill: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 180-i]

[Keith Vaz].

7    Public Administration,—(1) Machinery of Government changes: A follow-up Report: First Report from the Select Committee on Public Administration: to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 160]; and

(2) Propriety and Peerages: Second Report from the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 153]

[Dr Tony Wright].

8    Scottish Affairs,—Poverty in Scotland: Second Report from the Scottish Affairs Committee, with Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 128-I and -II] [Mr Mohammad Sarwar].

9    Treasury,—(1) Financial inclusion follow-up: saving for all and shorter term saving products: Government Response to the Thirteenth Report from the Committee, Session 2006-07: Third Special Report from the Treasury Committee; to be printed [No. 167];

(2) Financial Stability and Transparency: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 56-iii];

(3) Private equity: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 166-i]; and

(4) Counting the Population: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be printed [No. 183]

[John McFall].

10    Welsh Affairs,—(1) Energy in Wales: follow-up inquiry: First Report from the Welsh Affairs Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report, and Memoranda reported and ordered to be published on 16th and 23rd January 2007 [No. 177]; and

(2) Globalisation and its impact on Wales:

(i) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Welsh Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 34-vi]; and

(ii) Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[Dr Hywel Francis].

[W.H., No. 11]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at half-past Nine o'clock.

Subjects:

Future funding of canals (Michael Fabricant).

Malaysian campaign veterans (Mr Don Touhig).

Protection of vulnerable adults in residential nursing and care homes (Mr Phil Willis).

Proposed closure of Cadbury's Somerdale factory at Keynsham, North East Somerset (Dan Norris).

Train services stopping in Penrith from 2008 (David Maclean).

And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker