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 19th February.

2    Canterbury City Council Bill,—The Order of the day being read for the Second Reading of the Canterbury City Council Bill;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Tuesday 19th February.

3    Leeds City Council Bill,—The Order of the day being read for the Second Reading of the Leeds City Council Bill;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Tuesday 19th February.

4    London Local Authorities (Shopping Bags) Bill,—The Order of the day being read for the Second Reading of the London Local Authorities (Shopping Bags) Bill;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Tuesday 19th February.

5    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 19th February.

6    Nottingham City Council Bill,—The Order of the day being read for the Second Reading of the Nottingham City Council Bill;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Tuesday 19th February.

7    Reading Borough Council Bill,—The Order of the day being read for the Second Reading of the Reading Borough Council Bill;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Tuesday 19th February.

8    Education and Skills Bill,—Hugh Bayley reported a Memorandum from the Education and Skills Bill Committee.

Memorandum to lie upon the Table and to be published.

9    Energy Bill,—Mrs Joan Humble reported from the Energy 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.

10    Planning Bill,—Sir John Butterfill reported from the Planning Bill Committee:

(1) certain Memoranda; and

(2) That it had gone through the Bill and made Amendments thereunto.

Memoranda (reported on 8th, 10th, 15th, 17th, 22nd and 29th January and this day) to be printed.

Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee, to be considered to-morrow; and to be printed [Bill 71].

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

11    Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mr Martyn Jones reported from the Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (Wales) Regulations 2008.

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

12    European Standing Committee,—Mr Bill Olner reported from a European Standing Committee the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of European Union Documents No. 13043/07, No. 13045/07, No. 13212/07, No. 13219/07, No. 13046/07, No. 13048/07, and No. 13049/07 on regulation of electricity and gas supply and transmission networks and cross-border electricity and gas networks; further notes the Government's support for the European Commission's proposals for further legislation on the internal energy market; agrees that adoption of the measures would make a major contribution to the development of competition in the sector across the EU; and supports the Government's intention to press in the negotiations for the powers of the Agency to be strengthened.

Resolution to lie upon the Table.

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

13    Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill to amend the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985; to make provision about the persons who in certain circumstances are to be treated in law as the parents of a child; and for connected purposes; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.

14    Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords],—The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 70].

Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] be printed [Bill 70-EN].

15    Union Flag,—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to define the Union flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; to make provision about the display and flying of the Union flag; and for connected purposes: And that Andrew Rosindell, Mr Andrew Turner, Mr Lindsay Hoyle, Angela Watkinson, Mr Henry Bellingham, Mr Tobias Ellwood, Geraldine Smith, Mr Martyn Jones, Mr Nigel Dodds, Mr David Jones and David Mundell do prepare and bring it in.

16    Union Flag Bill,—Andrew Rosindell accordingly presented a Bill to define the Union flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; to make provision about the display and flying of the Union flag; 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 65].

17    Treaty of Lisbon (No. 3) (3rd allotted day),—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House approves the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of provisions concerning human rights—(Secretary Jack Straw);

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 'disapproves of the Government's policy towards the Treaty of Lisbon in respect of human rights because of its incoherence and inconsistency on the status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the United Kingdom; notes that after the Intergovernmental Conference was agreed the previous Prime Minister told the House that "it is absolutely clear that we have an opt-out from both the Charter and judicial and home affairs"; notes that the Minister for Europe told the House when debating the Treaty of Lisbon that "the fact is that the United Kingdom has neither sought nor achieved an opt-out on the Charter of Fundamental Rights"; and calls on the Government to adopt a clear and consistent policy whose merits Parliament may then judge', instead thereof.—(Mr David Lidington.)

Tellers for the Ayes, James Duddridge, Jeremy Wright: 170.

Tellers for the Noes, Alison Seabeck, Mr Sadiq Khan: 362.

It being more than four and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion relating to the Treaty of Lisbon (No. 3), the Deputy Speaker put the Main Question forthwith, pursuant to Order [28th January].

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Sadiq Khan, Alison Seabeck: 363.

Tellers for the Noes, James Duddridge, Jeremy Wright: 168.

18    European Union (Amendment) Bill [3rd allotted day],—The House, according to Order, again resolved itself into a Committee on the European Union (Amendment) Bill.

(In the Committee)

Clause No. 2 (Addition to list of Treaties).

Another Amendment (No. 84) proposed, in page 1, line 12, after the word 'excluding', to insert the words—

'(i) Article 1, paragraph 8, replacement Article 6 TEU relating to rights, freedoms and principles; and

(ii) '.—(Mr William Cash.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment (No. 228) proposed, in page 1, line 12, after the word 'excluding', to insert the words—

'(i) the Protocol on the Application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to Poland and the United Kingdom—

(a) Preamble, tenth paragraph stating that references in the Protocol to the operation of specific provisions of the Charter are strictly without prejudice to the operation of other provisions of the Charter; and

(b) Preamble, twelfth paragraph stating that the Protocol is without prejudice to other obligations devolving upon Poland and the United Kingdom under the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and Union law generally; and

(ii) '.—(Mr Mark Francois.)

Question put, That the Amendment be made.

The Committee divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, James Duddridge, Jeremy Wright: 168.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Wayne David, Mr Michael Foster: 357.

It being more than one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings in the Committee, the Chairman left the Chair to report progress and ask leave to sit again, pursuant to Order [28th January].

________________

The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair; and Mr Frank Roy reported, That the Committee had made progress in the Bill, and moved, That the Committee may have leave to sit again.

Committee again to-morrow.

19    Local Government,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the draft Wiltshire (Structural Change) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 8th January, be approved—(John Healey);

Wednesday 6th February 2007

And the Question being put;

And the Deputy Speaker's opinion as to the decision of the Question being challenged, the Division was deferred till to-morrow, pursuant to Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions).

20    Education,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Regional Learning and Skills Councils Regulations 2007, which were laid before this House on 14th November, be approved—(Mr Bob Blizzard):—It was agreed to.

21    Companies,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Companies (Late Filing Penalties) and Limited Liability Partnerships (Filing Periods and Late Filing Penalties) Regulations 2008, which were laid before this House on 17th December, be approved—(Mr Bob Blizzard):—It was agreed to.

22    Representation of the People,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Representation of the People (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2008, which were laid before this House on 23rd January, be approved—(Mr Bob Blizzard):—It was agreed to.

23    Constitutional Law,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) (Amendment) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 23rd January, be approved—(Mr Bob Blizzard):—It was agreed to.

24    Freight Transport Agenda,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 119 (European Standing Committees), That this House 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—(Mr Bob Blizzard):—It was agreed to.

25    Business of the House,—Ordered, That, at the sitting on Thursday 7th February, the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motion in the name of Ms Harriet Harman relating to European Scrutiny (Standing Orders) not later than Six o'clock; such Questions shall include the Questions on any Amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved; proceedings may continue, though opposed, after the moment of interruption; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.—(Mr Bob Blizzard.)

26    Public Petition,—A Public Petition from employees and supporters of Her Majesty's Valuation Office Agency in Newport relating to Her Majesty's Valuation Office Agency (Newport) was presented and read.

27    Adjournment.

Subject: Operation of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (Keith Vaz).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Bob Blizzard.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till twenty-seven minutes to One o'clock on Wednesday morning, adjourned till this day.

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    Legal Services,—Legal Services Act 2007 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitory Provisions) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 222), dated 4th February [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

2    Tribunals and Inquiries,—Charity Tribunal Rules 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 221), dated 4th February [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

Other Papers:

3    Superannuation,—(1) Civil Service Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Scheme 2008; and

(2) Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Amendment) Scheme 2008

[by Act] [Edward Miliband].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1    Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform,—The Post Office Closure Programme: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Committee; to be printed [No. 292-ii] [Peter Luff].

2    Culture, Media and Sport,—Tourism: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee; to be printed [No. 133-v] [Mr John Whittingdale].

3    Defence,—(1) Medical Care for the Armed Forces: Seventh Report from the Defence 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 22nd May, 24th July, 9th October, 21st and 28th November and 11th December [No. 327]; and

(2) UK land operations in Iraq 2007: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published

[Mr James Arbuthnot].

4    Home Affairs,—Human Trafficking: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Home Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 318-i] [Keith Vaz].

5    International Development,—Reconstructing Afghanistan:

(1) Fourth Report from the International Development Committee, with Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report, and Memoranda reported and ordered to be published on 12th October, 22nd November and 17th January [No. 65-I and -II]; and

(2) Memoranda laid before the Committee

[Malcolm Bruce].

6    Standards and Privileges,—Conduct of Mr Peter Hain: Fifth Report from the Committee on Standards and Privileges, with an Appendix; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 324] [Sir George Young].

7    Welsh Affairs,—(1) Work of the Committee in 2007: Third Report from the Welsh Affairs Committee, with the Minutes of the Proceedings relating to the Report, to be printed, [No. 325]; and

(2) Globalisation and its impact on Wales:

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

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

[Dr Hywel Francis].

[W.H., No. 27]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

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

Adjournment.

Subjects:

Standards of housing (Mrs Ann Cryer).

Energy regulations and consumer prices (Dr Vincent Cable).

Post office closures in York (Hugh Bayley).

Flood defences in the South West (Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger).

Review of the list of free to air sporting events (Mr John Grogan).

Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Ms Diana R. Johnson.)

And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker