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

1    Broads Authority Bill,—The Order of the day being read for the Third Reading of the Broads Authority Bill;

Ordered, That the Bill be read the third time on Thursday 20th March.

2    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 Thursday 20th March.

3    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 Thursday 20th March.

4    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 Thursday 20th March.

5    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 Thursday 20th March.

6    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 Thursday 20th March.

7    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 Thursday 20th March.

8    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 Thursday 20th March.

9    Ways and Means,—Amendment of the Law,—The Order of the day being read, for resuming the adjourned Debate on the Question proposed yesterday, That—

(1) It is expedient to amend the law with respect to the National Debt and the public revenue and to make further provision in connection with finance.

(2) This Resolution does not extend to the making of any amendment with respect to value added tax so as to provide—

(a) for zero-rating or exempting a supply, acquisition or importation;

(b) for refunding an amount of tax;

(c) for any relief, other than a relief that—

  (i) so far as it is applicable to goods, applies to goods of every description, and

  (ii) so far as it is applicable to services, applies to services of every description.

And the Question being again proposed:—The House resumed the adjourned Debate.

Ordered, That the Debate be now adjourned.—(Liz Blackman.)

Debate to be resumed on Monday 17th March.

10    Public Petition,—A Public Petition from Gillian Eames relating to Ankylosing Spondylitis was presented.

11    Adjournment.

Subject: Proposed closure of Abbeville Road Post Office, Clapham (Keith Hill).

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

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

Michael J. Martin

Speaker

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

APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1    Agriculture,—Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 665), dated 10th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Hilary Benn].

2    Building and Buildings,—(1) Building (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 671), dated 10th March 2008; and

(2) Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 647), dated 6th March 2008

[by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda and Impact Assessments thereon [by Command] [Secretary Hazel Blears].

3    Companies,—(1) Companies (Mergers and Divisions of Public Companies) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 690), dated 7th March 2008; and

(2) Companies (Reduction of Capital) (Creditor Protection) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 719), dated 11th March 2008

[by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda and Impact Assessments thereon [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

4    Copyright,—Copyright and Performances (Application to Other Countries) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 677), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary John Denham].

5    Disabled Persons,—Disability Discrimination (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 641), dated 5th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell].

6    Income Tax,—(1) Income Tax (Limits for Enterprise Management Incentives) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 706), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Angela Eagle];

(2) Individual Savings Account (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 704), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Angela Eagle]; and

(3) Registered Pension Schemes (Provision of Information) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 720), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Jane Kennedy].

7    Insolvency,—Insolvency Proceedings (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 714), dated 10th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

8    Legal Services Commission,—(1) Criminal Defence Service (Financial Eligibility) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 723); and

(2) Criminal Defence Service (General) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 725),

dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

9    Ministers of the Crown,—Transfer of Functions (Registration) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 678), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

10    Pensions,—(1) Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions (Amendment) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 679), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act] [Secretary Jack Straw];

(2) Occupational Pension Schemes (Internal Dispute Resolution Procedures Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 649), dated 5th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell]; and

(3) Pensions Increase (Review) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 711), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Yvette Cooper].

11    Sea Fisheries,—Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 691), dated 9th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary Hilary Benn].

12    Social Security,—(1) Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating) Consequential Amendment Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 703), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Jane Kennedy]; and

(2) Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 667), dated 9th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell].

13    Town and Country Planning,—Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 675), dated 10th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary Hazel Blears].

14    Value Added Tax,—(1) Value Added Tax (Consideration for Fuel Provided for Private Use) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 722), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Angela Eagle]; and

(2) Value Added Tax (Increase of Registration Limits) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 707), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Jane Kennedy].

Other Papers:

15    Innovation, Universities and Skills,—Paper, entitled Innovation Nation [by Command] [Cm. 7345] [Secretary John Denham].

16    Merchant Shipping,—Report by the Department for Transport of exemptions granted under section 294 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 during 2007 [by Act] [Secretary Ruth Kelly].

17    National Assistance Services,—Explanatory Memorandum to the National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements and Assessment of Resources) Amendment (England) Regulations (S.I. 593, 2008) 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 593) [by Command] [Secretary Alan Johnson].

18    Police,—Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary for 2005-07 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 163] [Secretary Jacqui Smith].

Papers withdrawn:

19    National Assistance Services,—Explanatory Memorandum to the National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements and Assessment of Resources) Amendment (England) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 593) [laid 11th March].

20    Pollution Prevention and Control,—(1) Local Authority Permits for Part A Installations and Mobile Plant (Fees and Charges) (England) Scheme 2008; and

(2) Local Authority Permits for Part B Installations and Mobile Plant (Fees and Charges) (England) Scheme 2008

[laid 11th March].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1    Draft Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Hilary Armstrong, Alistair Burt, Mrs Nadine Dorries, Julia Goldsworthy, Mr Peter Hain, Mr Mike Hall, Mr Fabian Hamilton, John Healey, Mr Nick Hurd, Mr Fraser Kemp, Chris Mole, Robert Neill, Dan Rogerson, Joan Ryan, Andrew Selous, Paddy Tipping and Mr Dave Watts from the Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Order).

    Grand Committees

2    Welsh Grand Committee,—The Committee of Selection has discharged John Baron and Anne Main from the Welsh Grand Committee.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Health Committee; to be printed [No. 422-i]; and

(2) Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be printed [No. 422-II]

[Mr Kevin Barron].

[W.H., No. 41]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

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

Subject: Human rights of older people in healthcare—Eighteenth Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Session 2006-07 and the Government's response thereto.

Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Siobhain McDonagh.)

And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till Tuesday 18th March.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker