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

1    First Delegated Legislation Committee,—David Taylor reported from the First Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Regional Learning and Skills Councils Regulations 2007.

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

2    Second Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mr Martin Caton reported from the Second Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Companies (Late Filing Penalties) and Limited Liability Partnerships (Filing Periods and Late Filing Penalties) Regulations 2008.

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

3    Third Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mr Jim Hood reported from the Third Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Representation of the People (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 and the draft Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) (Amendment) Order 2008.

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

4    European Standing Committee,—Frank Cook reported from a European Standing Committee the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of European Union Documents No. 14277/07 and Addenda 1 and 2, Commission Communication, The EU's freight transport agenda—Boosting the efficiency, integration and sustainability of freight transport in Europe, No. 14165/07 and Addendum 3, Commission Communication, Towards a rail network giving priority to freight, No. 14175/07 and Addenda 1 and 2, Commission Communication on a European ports policy, and No. 14266/07 and Addenda 1 and 2, Commission Communication, Freight transport logistics action plan; and endorses the Government's approach to discussions on these documents.

Resolution to lie upon the Table.

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

5    Borough Freedom Bill,—The Order for reading the Borough Freedom Bill a second time on Friday 29th February was read and discharged.

Bill withdrawn.

6    Police,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That the Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2008-09 (House of Commons Paper No. 265), which was laid before this House on 24th January, be approved—(Mr Tony McNulty);

Tellers for the Ayes, Siobhain McDonagh, Mr Dave Watts: 280.

Tellers for the Noes, Michael Fabricant, Mr Nick Hurd: 171.

Resolved, That the Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2008-09 (House of Commons Paper No. 265), which was laid before this House on 24th January, be approved.

7    Local Government Finance,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That the Local Government Finance Report (England) 2008-09 (House of Commons Paper No. 262), which was laid before this House on 24th January, be approved—(John Healey);

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Bob Blizzard, Steve McCabe: 278.

Tellers for the Noes, Bob Russell, Willie Rennie: 45.

Resolved, That the Local Government Finance Report (England) 2008-09 (House of Commons Paper No. 262), which was laid before this House on 24th January, be approved.

8    Northern Ireland,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (Amnesty Period) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 4th December, be approved—(Mr Frank Roy):—It was agreed to.

9    Modernisation of the House,—Ordered, That Mr Adrian Sanders be discharged from the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons and John Hemming be added.—(Mr Nicholas Brown.)

10    Justice,—Ordered, That Mr Humfrey Malins be discharged from the Justice Committee and Mr Andrew Turner be added.—(Rosemary McKenna, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

11    Scottish Affairs,—Ordered, That Mr David Hamilton be discharged from the Scottish Affairs Committee and Mr Jim McGovern be added.—(Rosemary McKenna, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

12    Administration,—Ordered, That Frank Dobson be discharged from the Administration Committee and Mr Tom Clarke be added.—(Rosemary McKenna, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

13    Adjournment.

Subject: HM Inspector of Prisons report on HM Prison Chelmsford (Mr Simon Burns).

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

And the Motion having been made after Ten o'clock, and the Debate having continued for half an hour, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order, it being then sixteen 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 or laid upon the Table:

Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1    International Development,—Draft Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board (Prescribed Day) Order 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Alexander].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

2    Immigration,—Independent Police Complaints Commission (Immigration and Asylum Enforcement Functions) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 212), dated 31st January 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jacqui Smith].

3    Universities of Oxford and Cambridge,—Statute, dated 14th February 2007, made by the Governing Body of Balliol College in the University of Oxford, revising the existing Statutes of the College [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

Other Papers:

4    Disabled Persons,—Explanatory Memorandum to the Draft Rail Vehicle Accessibility (B2007 Vehicles) Exemption Order for 2008 [by Command] [Secretary Ruth Kelly].

5    Foreign and Commonwealth Office,—Annual Report of the Global Opportunities Fund for 2006-07 [by Command] [Cm. 7314] [Secretary David Miliband].

6    National Audit,—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Department for International Development: Providing budget support to developing countries [by Act]; to be printed [No. 6] [Clerk of the House].

Papers withdrawn:

7    Disabled Persons,—Explanatory Memorandum to the Draft Rail Vehicle Accessibility (B2007 Vehicles) Exemption Order for 2008 [laid 31st January].

APPENDIX II

1    Draft Regional Learning and Skills Councils Regulations 2007,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr David Anderson from the First Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations) and nominated in substitution Ms Celia Barlow.

2    Draft Companies (Late Filing Penalties) and Limited Liability Partnerships (Filing Periods and Late Filing Penalties) Regulations 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Fabian Hamilton, Stephen Pound, Alan Simpson and Mr Stephen Timms from the Second Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations) and nominated in substitution Colin Burgon, Frank, Dobson, Mr Pat McFadden and Mr Jim McGovern.

3    Draft Representation of the People (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 and the draft Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) (Amendment) Order 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr David Hamilton from the Third Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations and draft Order) and nominated in substitution Rosemary McKenna.

4    Draft Companies (Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Hugo Swire from the Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations) and nominated in substitution Mark Simmonds.

5    Draft Cornwall (Structural Change) Order 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Stephen Dorrell from the Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Order) and nominated in substitution Mr Mark Prisk.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1    Communities and Local Government,—(1) Refuse Collection: Waste Reduction Pilots: Sixth Report from the Communities and Local Government Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 195]; and

(2) Community Cohesion and Migration: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[Dr Phyllis Starkey].

2    Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,—Flooding: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 49-ix] [Mr Michael Jack].

3    Public Accounts,—(1) Staying the course: The retention of students on higher education courses: Tenth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, with Memoranda; to be printed with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 322];

(2) Progress in tackling benefit fraud: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 323-i]; and

(3) The efficiency programme: Letter laid before the Committee

[Mr Edward Leigh].

4    Work and Pensions,—Health and safety: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Work and Pensions Committee; to be printed [No. 246-ii] [Mr Terry Rooney].