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

1    Bournemouth Borough Council Bill [Lords],—The Order of the day being read for the Second Reading of the Bournemouth Borough Council Bill [Lords];

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Tuesday 15th January.

2    Manchester City Council Bill [Lords],—The Order of the day being read for the Second Reading of the Manchester City Council Bill [Lords];

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Tuesday 15th January.

3    Health and Social Care Bill,—Mr Jim Hood reported from the Health and Social Care 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 to be published.

4    Planning Bill,—Sir John Butterfill reported from the Planning 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 to be published.

5    Umbilical Cord Blood (Donation),—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to promote the donation of cord blood from women after giving birth; and for connected purposes: And that Mr David Burrowes, Geraldine Smith, Simon Hughes, Robert Key, Mr Julian Brazier, Mr Stephen Crabb, Mr Andrew Dismore, Bob Spink, Michael Fabricant, Jim Dobbin, Andrew Selous and Mrs Nadine Dorries do prepare and bring it in.

6    Umbilical Cord Blood (Donation) Bill,—Mr David Burrowes accordingly presented a Bill to promote the donation of cord blood from women after giving birth; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 17th October and to be printed [Bill 50].

7    Opposition Day [5th allotted day],—It being an allotted day at the disposal of the Leader of the Opposition in pursuance of Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business), the House proceeded to consider Opposition business.

Performance of Network Rail,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House is deeply concerned by the track work overruns by Network Rail on the West Coast Main Line and at Liverpool Street station over the Christmas and New Year period; believes that the disruption caused to passengers was unacceptable and that Network Rail failed to plan properly for the successful completion of works on time; further notes that Network Rail was created by the present Government and believes that these recent incidents illustrate that the organisation is insufficiently accountable to its customers; and calls on the Government to take steps to ensure that Network Rail is made more accountable to the travelling public so that efficiency is improved and a much better quality of service is provided to passengers in the future—(Mrs Theresa Villiers);

An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 2, to leave out from the word 'House' to the end of the Question and add the words 'applauds the Government for taking decisive action to correct the flaws of rail privatisation; welcomes the fact that the railway is carrying 40 per cent. more passengers and 47 per cent. more freight than in 1997 with improving punctuality and safety standards and record investment in infrastructure; and looks forward to seeing the results of the investigation by the Office of Rail Regulation into Network Rail's performance, following the unacceptable engineering overruns experienced by passengers during Christmas and the New Year', instead thereof.—(Secretary Ruth Kelly.)

And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Stewart Jackson, Jeremy Wright: 235.

Tellers for the Noes, Alison Seabeck, Liz Blackman: 303.

So the Question was negatived.

And the Question, That the proposed words be there added, being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 31 (Questions on amendments);

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Alison Seabeck, Mr Dave Watts: 304.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Stewart Jackson, Jeremy Wright: 234.

So the Question was agreed to.

The Deputy Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to.

Resolved, That this House applauds the Government for taking decisive action to correct the flaws of rail privatisation; welcomes the fact that the railway is carrying 40 per cent. more passengers and 47 per cent. more freight than in 1997 with improving punctuality and safety standards and record investment in infrastructure; and looks forward to seeing the results of the investigation by the Office of Rail Regulation into Network Rail's performance, following the unacceptable engineering overruns experienced by passengers during Christmas and the New Year.

Higher Education and Adult Learners,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House is concerned that the Government's decision to withdraw funding from institutions for equivalent or lower qualification students will have a disproportionate impact on the part-time sector in general and on specific institutions such as Birkbeck and the Open University; and urges the Government to consider ways in which it can minimise the damage this measure will do to lifelong learning and the delivery of the Leitch agenda objectives—(Mr David Willetts);

An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 2, to leave out from the word 'House' to the end of the Question and add the words 'supports the Government's decision to reprioritise some funding currently supporting the teaching of higher education students who already hold an equivalent or higher qualification, in order to enable approximately 20,000 additional full-time equivalent students to enter higher education for the first time; notes the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) consultation which proposes that transitional protection will be put into place to ensure that no provider loses in cash terms, that the change to the funding methodology will protect Foundation Degrees, employer co-financed programmes, and strategic subjects, and that the premium paid to support the costs of part-time provision will be increased; notes that HEFCE and Ministers have been engaging constructively with the Open University and Birkbeck on this issue; and believes that the Government is right to give priority to first-time students', instead thereof.—(Secretary John Denham.)

And the Question being proposed, That the original words stand part of the Question;

Mr Patrick McLoughlin 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, Michael Fabricant, Angela Watkinson: 238.

Tellers for the Noes, Steve McCabe, Mr Sadiq Khan: 291.

So the Question was negatived.

And the Question, That the proposed words be there added, being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 31 (Questions on amendments);

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Steve McCabe, Mr Sadiq Khan: 287.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Stewart Jackson, Jeremy Wright: 233.

So the Question was agreed to.

The Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to.

Resolved, That this House supports the Government's decision to reprioritise some funding currently supporting the teaching of higher education students who already hold an equivalent or higher qualification, in order to enable approximately 20,000 additional full-time equivalent students to enter higher education for the first time; notes the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) consultation which proposes that transitional protection will be put into place to ensure that no provider loses in cash terms, that the change to the funding methodology will protect Foundation Degrees, employer co-financed programmes, and strategic subjects, and that the premium paid to support the costs of part-time provision will be increased; notes that HEFCE and Ministers have been engaging constructively with the Open University and Birkbeck on this issue; and believes that the Government is right to give priority to first-time students.

8    Public Petition,—A Public Petition from Susan M. Shutter relating to prostitution was presented and read.

9    Adjournment.

Subject: Carbon monoxide detectors in homes (Tom Levitt).

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

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 one minute to Eleven o'clock, 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 Affirmative Resolution:

1    Local Government,—(1) Draft Cornwall (Structural Change) Order 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary Hazel Blears];

(2) draft County Durham (Structural Change) Order 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary Hazel Blears];

(3) draft Local Authorities (Alcohol Disorder Zones) Regulations 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary Jacqui Smith];

(4) draft Northumberland (Structural Change) Order 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary Hazel Blears];

(5) draft Shropshire (Structural Change) Order 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary Hazel Blears]; and

(6) draft Wiltshire (Structural Change) Order 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary Hazel Blears].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

2    Insolvency,—Insolvency Practitioners and Insolvency Services Account (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 3), dated 7th January 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

3    Tribunals and Inquiries,—Compulsory Purchase (Inquiries Procedures) Rules 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 3617), dated 15th December 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Hazel Blears].

Other Paper:

4    Sessional Returns, 2006-07—Returns to an Order [13th November] for Returns for Session 2006-07 of information and statistics relating to—

    (1) Business of the House;

    (2) Closure of Debate, Proposal of Question and Allocation of Time (including Programme Motions);

    (3) Sittings of the House;

    (4) Private Bills and Private Business;

    (5) Public Bills;

    (6) Delegated Legislation and Regulatory Reform Orders;

    (7) European Legislation, etc;

    (8) Grand Committees;

    (9) Chairmen's Panel; and

    (10) Select Committees [pursuant to Order]; to be printed [No. 1] [Clerk of the House].

Papers withdrawn:

5    Local Government,—(1) Draft Cornwall (Structural Change) Order 2008;

(2) draft County Durham (Structural Change) Order 2008;

(3) draft Northumberland (Structural Change) Order 2008;

(4) draft Shropshire (Structural Change) Order 2008; and

(5) draft Wiltshire (Structural Change) Order 2008,

with Explanatory Memoranda and Impact Assessments thereon [laid 17th December].

APPENDIX II

Reports from Select Committees

1    Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform,—(1) The future of the UK Manufacturing: public procurement: Government Response to the Thirteenth Report from the Committee, Session 2006-07: First Special Report from the Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Committee; to be printed [No. 212];

(2) Recent Developments in Trade: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 208-i]; and

(3) Trade with India: one year on: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 209-i]

[Peter Luff].

2    Communities and Local Government,—(1) Local Government Finance: Supplementary Business Rate: Government Response to the Seventh Report from the Committee, Session 2006-07: Third Report from the Communities and Local Government Committee, with an Appendix; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 210]; and

(2) Work of the Committee in 2007: Fourth Report from the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 211]

[Dr Phyllis Starkey].

3    Culture, Media and Sport,—Tourism: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee; to be printed [No. 33-iv] [Mr John Whittingdale].

4    Defence,—The Future of NATO and European Defence: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Defence Committee; to be printed [No. 111-ii] [Mr James Arbuthnot].

5    Foreign Affairs Committee,—Developments in the EU: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Foreign Affairs Committee; to be printed [No.120-iv] [Mr Mike Gapes].

6    Welsh Affairs,—Globalisation and its impact on Wales:

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

(2)  Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published

[Dr Hywel Francis].

[W.H., No. 15]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

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

Subjects:

Fuel poverty (Mark Lazarowicz).

Application of the regulations governing Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Mr Philip Dunne).

Nottingham's role as a Local Area Agreement demonstration area (Mr Graham Allen).

Planning functions of local government (Norman Baker).

Spending by parliamentary candidates before dissolution (Martin Linton).

A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned—(Mr Bob Blizzard);

And it being Two o'clock, the sitting was adjourned without Question put, till to-morrow.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker

CORRIGENDUM