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

1    Pensions Bill,—The Pensions Bill was, according to Order, read a second time.

2    Pensions Bill (Programme),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 83A (Programme motions), That the following provisions shall apply to the Pensions Bill:

Committal

1. The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee.

Proceedings in Public Bill Committee

2. Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Tuesday 26th February 2008.

3. The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on which it meets.

Consideration and Third Reading

4. Proceedings on consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the day on which those proceedings are commenced.

5. Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.

6. Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings on consideration and Third Reading.

Other proceedings

7. Any other proceedings on the Bill (including any proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments or on any further messages from the Lords) may be programmed—(Ms Diana R. Johnson):—It was agreed to.

3    Pensions Bill [Money],—Her Majesty's Recommendation having been signified to the proposed Motion relating to Pensions Bill [Money];

A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 52 (Money resolutions and ways and means resolutions in connection with bills), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Pensions Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of—

(a) any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State or a government department in consequence of the Act, and

(b) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable out of money so provided under any other enactment—(Ms Diana R. Johnson):—It was agreed to.

4    Pensions Bill [Ways and Means],—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 52 (Money resolutions and ways and means resolutions in connection with bills), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Pensions Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund—(Ms Diana R. Johnson):—It was agreed to.

5    Immigration,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Immigration (Employment of Adults Subject to Immigration Control) (Maximum Penalty) Order 2007, which was laid before this House on 22nd November, be approved—(Ms Diana R. Johnson):—It was agreed to.

6    Public Petitions,— Public Petitions from—

(1) Councillor Larry Hanson and others relating to Post Office closures (Kettering); and

(2) Residents of Castle Point relating to support for armed forces

were presented and read.

7    Adjournment.

Subject: Recovery from flooding in Gloucestershire (Mr Laurence Robertson).

A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn—(Steve McCabe);

And the Motion having been made after Ten o'clock, and the Debate having continued for half an hour, the Speaker adjourned the House without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order, it being then twenty-seven minutes to Eleven o'clock, till to-morrow.

Michael J. Martin

Speaker

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

APPENDIX I

Papers presented by Her Majesty's Command and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned dates during the adjournment pursuant to Standing Order No. 158 (Presentation of command papers):

Wednesday 19th December 2007

1    Electricity,—Explanatory Memorandum to the draft Electricity and Gas (Carbon Emissions Reduction) Order 2008 [Secretary Hilary Benn].

Friday 4th January 2008

2    Miscellaneous (No. 9, 2007),—International Convention, done at New York on 13th April 2005, for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Cm. 7301] [Secretary David Miliband].

Papers delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned dates during the adjournment pursuant to Standing Order No. 159 (Presentation of statutory instruments):

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

Wednesday 19th December 2007

3    Civil Aviation,—(1) Air Navigation (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3467), dated 12th December 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [Secretary Ruth Kelly]; and

(2) Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3468), dated 12th December 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Secretary David Miliband].

4    European Communities,—European Communities (Designation) (No. 5) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3471), dated 12th December 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Secretary David Miliband].

5    Legal Services Commission,—(1) Criminal Defence Service (Funding) (Amendment) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3552); and

(2) Criminal Defence Service (General) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3550),

dated 18th December 2007, with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [Secretary Jack Straw].

6    Parliamentary Commissioner,—Parliamentary Commissioner Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3470), dated 12th December 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Edward Miliband].

7    Public Records,—Public Records (Technology Strategy Board) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3466), dated 12th December 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Secretary Jack Straw].

Thursday 20th December 2007

8    Food,—Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3521), dated 13th December 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [Secretary Alan Johnson].

Friday 21st December 2007

9    Channel Tunnel,—Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3579), dated 18th December 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [Secretary Jacqui Smith].

10    Civil Aviation,—Civil Aviation (Allocation of Scarce Capacity) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3556), dated 17th December 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Secretary Ruth Kelly].

11    Income Tax,—General Commissioners and Special Commissioners (Jurisdiction and Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3612), dated 15th December 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Secretary Jack Straw].

12    Local Government,—Bus Lane Contraventions (Approved Local Authorities) (England) (Amendment) (No. 8) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3554), dated 18th December 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Secretary Ruth Kelly].

13    Road Traffic,—(1) Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Cheshire) (Borough of Crewe and Nantwich) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3566); and

(2) Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3553),

dated 18th December 2007, with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [Secretary Ruth Kelly].

Friday 28th December 2007

14    Equal Opportunities and Human Rights,—Equality Act 2006 (Dissolution of Commissions and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3555), dated 17th December 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Mr Secretary Hain].

Other Paper:

Wednesday 19th December 2007

15    Terms and Conditions of Employment,—Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3570), dated 18th December 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Mr Secretary Hutton].

Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 7th January 2008:

Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution:

16    Road Traffic,—Draft Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (Wales) Regulations 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hain].

Other Papers:

17    Culture, Media and Sport,—Draft Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill [by Command] [Cm. 7298] [Secretary James Purnell].

18    Reserve Forces,—Report under section 54(7) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 on the making of a call-out order for Iraq under section 54(1) of that Act, dated 3rd January 2008 [by Act] [Secretary Des Browne].

Papers withdrawn:

19    Electricity,—Explanatory Memorandum to the draft Electricity and Gas (Carbon Emissions Reduction) Order 2008 [laid 5th December].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1    Planning Bill,—The Committee of Selection has discharged John Robertson from the Planning Bill Committee and nominated in substitution Jim Sheridan.