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

1    Planning and Energy Bill,—Mr Peter Atkinson reported from the Planning and Energy Bill Committee, That it had gone though the Bill and made Amendments thereunto and had amended the Title, as follows: A Bill to enable local planning authorities to set requirements for energy use and energy efficiency in local plans.

Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee, to be considered on Friday 9th May; and to be printed [Bill 72].

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

2    Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee,—Dr William McCrea reported from the Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry Training Board) Order 2008 and the draft Industrial Training Levy (Engineering Construction Industry Training Board) Order 2008.

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

3    Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mr Christopher Chope reported from the Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating) Order 2008.

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

4    Criminal Justice (Raves),—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 powers in relation to illegal raves: And that Christopher Fraser, Sir Paul Beresford, Mr Laurence Robertson, Sammy Wilson, Mr Humfrey Malins, Mr Julian Brazier, Dr Tony Wright, Mrs Siān C. James, Mr David Drew, David T. C. Davies, Mr Dai Davies and Bob Russell do prepare and bring it in.

5    Criminal Justice (Raves) Bill,—Christopher Fraser accordingly presented a Bill to amend the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 powers in relation to illegal raves: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 6th June and to be printed [Bill 69].

6    Business of the House (Lisbon Treaty) (No. 4),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Order [28th January], That the Order of 28th January be further amended as follows; in the Table, in the entry for allotted day 5, in the third column:

(a) for '4 1/2 hours' substitute '3 hours', and

(b) for '1 1/2 hours' substitute '3 hours'—(Mr Alan Campbell):—It was agreed to.

7    Treaty of Lisbon (No. 5) [5th 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 foreign, security and defence policy—(Secretary David Miliband);

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 provisions concerning foreign, security and defence policy; notes that those provisions are in large part identical to those in the European Union Constitution; further notes that the Government publicly opposed many of those provisions at the Convention on the Future of Europe; believes that the Government was right to oppose those provisions; regrets the Government's change of policy; and believes that the consequent increase of the European Union's powers over foreign, security and defence policy at member states' expense is not in the national interest', instead thereof.—(Mr William Hague.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made.

8    Deferred Divisions,—The Deputy Speaker announced the results of the Division which had been deferred to this day, pursuant to Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions):

Local Government,—That the draft Shropshire (Structural Change) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 8th January, be approved.

Ayes: 257.

Noes: 164.

So the Question was agreed to.

9    Treaty of Lisbon (No. 4) [5th allotted day],—The Question being again proposed, That the Amendment be made;

And it being three hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion relating to the Treaty of Lisbon (No. 5), the Deputy Speaker put the Question forthwith, pursuant to Orders [28th January and this day].

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Brooks Newmark, James Duddridge: 156.

Tellers for the Noes, Siobhain McDonagh, Mr Sadiq Khan: 346.

Tellers for the Ayes, Siobhain McDonagh, Mr Sadiq Khan: 337.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Brooks Newmark, James Duddridge: 163.

10    European Union (Amendment) Bill [5th 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. 258) proposed, in page 1, line 12, after the word 'excluding', to insert the words—

'(i) Article 1, paragraph 16, inserted Article 9B TEU, paragraph 6 so far as it relates to the role of the President of the European Council in external representation of the Union; and

(ii) '.—(Mr Mark Francois.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made.

And it being two and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings in the Committee, the Chairman put the Question already proposed from the Chair, pursuant to Orders [28th January and this day].

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Brooks Newmark, James Duddridge: 133.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Alan Campbell, Tony Cunningham: 331.

Whereupon the Chairman left the Chair to report progress and ask leave to sit again.

________________

The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair; and Liz Blackman 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.

11    Social Security,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2008, which were laid before this House on 14th January, be approved—(Liz Blackman):—It was agreed to.

12    Immigration,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (Duty to Share Information and Disclosure of Information for Security Purposes) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 10th January, be approved—(Liz Blackman):—It was agreed to.

13    Welsh Grand Committee,—Ordered, That—

(1) the matter of the Budget Statement and its implications for Wales, being a matter relating exclusively to Wales, be referred to the Welsh Grand Committee for its consideration;

(2) the Committee shall meet at Westminster on Wednesday 26th March at twenty five minutes past nine o'clock and between two o'clock and half-past four o'clock to take questions under Standing Order No. 103 (Welsh Grand Committee (questions for oral answer)) and to consider the matter referred to it under paragraph (1) above.—(Liz Blackman.)

14    Public Petitions,—Public Petitions from—

(1) the campaign for a sustainable Toddington relating to planning (Bedfordshire);

(2) the campaign for a sustainable Harlington relating to planning (Bedfordshire); and

(3) residents of the Hatton Park area in Wellingborough and surrounding areas relating to local infrastructure (Northamptonshire)

were presented and read.

15    Adjournment.

Subject: Cyber bullying amongst school-age children (Mrs Siān C. James).

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

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

Michael J. Martin

Speaker

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

APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1    Companies,—Draft Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

2    Proceeds of Crime,—Draft Serious Crime Act 2007 (Amendment of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002) Order 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jacqui Smith].

3    Taxes,—Draft Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments) (Taxes and National Insurance) Order 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Jane Kennedy].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

4    Companies,—(1) Companies (Revision of Defective Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 373); and

(2) Companies (Summary Financial Statement) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 374),

dated 19th February 2008 [by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

5    Education,—Education (School Performance Information) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 364), dated 13th February 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Ed Balls].

Other Papers:

6    Children, Schools and Families,—Department for Children, Schools and Families Minute concerning a contingent liability in respect of claims against the QCA arising from failures relating to the Diploma Aggregation Service (DAS) [by Command] [Secretary Ed Balls].

7    Justice (Northern Ireland),—Inspection of the Youth Conference Service in Northern Ireland [by Act] [Mr Secretary Woodward].

8    Public Accounts,—Update on Treasury Minutes to the Thirty-fifth Report together with the Fifty-seventh to Sixty-fifth Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2006-07 [by Command] [Cm. 7322] [Angela Eagle].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1    Draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2008:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations to the First Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mrs Janet Dean Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: John Battle, Mr Clive Betts, Mr Crispin Blunt, Tom Brake, Ms Karen Buck, Mr Liam Byrne, Mr Alan Campbell, David T. C. Davies (Monmouth), Mr Stephen Dorrell, Michael Jabez Foster, Mr Christopher Fraser, Damian Green, Chris Huhne, Ian Lucas, Margaret Moran, Ms Dari Taylor and Mr Anthony Wright.

2    Draft Charities Act 2006 (Charitable Companies Audit and Group Accounts Provisions) Order 2008:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Second Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr David Taylor Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Liz Blackman, Mr Richard Caborn, Greg Clark, James Duddridge, Jeff Ennis, Paul Farrelly, Phil Hope, Martin Horwood, Susan Kramer, Mr Denis MacShane, Fiona Mactaggart, Mr Michael Meacher, Mr Alan Meale, John Penrose, Mark Pritchard, Mr Nick Raynsford and Mr Tim Yeo.

3    Draft Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry Training Board) Order 2008 and the draft Industrial Training Levy (Engineering Construction Industry Training Board) Order 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Neil Gerrard, Mr Robert Marshall-Andrews and Mr Don Touhig from the Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Orders) and nominated in substitution Mr David Chaytor, Mrs Madeline Moon and Phil Wilson.

    European Standing Committees

4    European Union Documents No. 15616/07 and Addenda 1 and 2, No. 15690/07 and Addenda 1 and 2, and Unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum, dated 15th February 2008, submitted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, relating to the Interim Political Agreement on Co-operation between the European Union and its Member States and the Republic of Serbia, have been referred to European Committee B.

5    The Speaker has appointed Mr Joe Benton Chairman of the European Committee in respect of European Union Document No. 15351/07, relating to CAP 'Health Check'.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

6    Children, Schools and Families,—Children and Young Persons Bill [Lords]: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Children, Schools and Families Committee; to be printed [No. 359-i] [Mr Barry Sheerman].

7    Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,—Climate change: the "citizen's agenda" and the Bali Summit: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 362-i] [Mr Michael Jack].

8    European Scrutiny,—(1) Fourteenth Report from the European Scrutiny Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 16-xii];

(2) Minutes of the public deliberations of the Committee; to be printed [No. 361-i]; and

(3) Ministerial Correspondence: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[Michael Connarty].

9    Foreign Affairs,—Global Security: Iran: Fifth Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, with Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 142] [Mike Gapes].

10    Innovation, Universities and Skills,—Science Budget Allocations: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Innovation, Universities and Skills Committee; to be printed [No. 215-ii] [Mr Phil Willis].

11    Modernisation of the House of Commons,—Regional Accountability: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons; to be printed [No. 282-iii] [Ms Harriet Harman].

12    Northern Ireland Affairs,—Policing and Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 333-ii] [Sir Patrick Cormack].

13    Public Accounts,—(1) Reducing the cost of complying with regulations: the delivery of the Administrative Burdens Reduction Programme, 2007: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee of Public Accounts; to be printed [No. 363-i]; and

(2) The Public in West Bromwich: Letter laid before the Committee

[Mr Edward Leigh].

14    Statutory Instruments,—Tenth Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, with Memoranda; to be printed [No. 38-x] [David Maclean].

15    Transport,—Delivering a Sustainable Railway: A 30-year Strategy for the Railways?: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Transport Committee; to be printed [No. 219-iii] [Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody].

[W.H., No. 31]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

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

Subjects:

Withdrawal of Leeds working neighbourhood funding (Mr George Mudie).

Development aid and oil extraction (Mr Andrew Smith).

Funding for policing in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire (Mr Stewart Jackson).

Environment Agency response to flooding in Rochdale (Paul Rowen).

Office of Fair Trading action on scams (Miss Anne Begg).

Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Steve McCabe.)

And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker

CORRIGENDUM

APPENDIX II
General Committees

1    Draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Jim Devine from the Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations) and nominated in substitution Mr Fraser Kemp.

2    Draft Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (Duty to Share Information and Disclosure of Information for Security Purposes) Order 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Crispin Blunt and Mr Quentin Davies from the Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Order) and nominated in substitution Mrs Sharon Hodgson and Mr Brooks Newmark.