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

1    The Speaker's Absence,—The House being met, and the Speaker having leave of absence pursuant to paragraph (3) of Standing Order No. 3 (Deputy Speaker), Sir Michael Lord, the Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means, proceeded to the Table.

2    The Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means took the Chair as Deputy Speaker.

3    Motion to sit in private,—Mr Stephen Crabb moved, That this House do sit in private.

The Deputy Speaker put the Question forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 163 (Motions to sit in private).

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Nick Hurd, Mr John Baron: 0.

Tellers for the Noes, John Robertson, Liz Blackman: 27.

And it appearing on the report of the Division that fewer than forty Members had taken part in the Division, the Deputy Speaker declared that the Question was not decided.

4    Animals Act 1971 (Amendment) Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Animals Act 1971 (Amendment) Bill;

A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the Bill be now read a second time;

Mr Andrew Dismore 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;

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Roger Williams, Mr Brooks Newmark: 26.

Tellers for the Noes, John Robertson, Stephen Pound: 1.

And it appearing on the report of the Division that fewer than forty Members had taken part in the Division, the Deputy Speaker declared that the Question was not decided and the business under consideration stood over until the next sitting of the House.

5    Environmental Protection (Airports) Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Environmental Protection (Airports) Bill;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 16th May.

6    Disqualification from Parliament (Taxation Status) Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for resuming the adjourned Debate on the Question proposed on 25th January, That the Disqualification from Parliament (Taxation Status) Bill be now read a second time;

Ordered, That the Debate be resumed on Friday 16th May.

7    Employment Retention Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Employment Retention Bill;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 25th April.

8    Adjournment.

Subject: Conviction of Mr Luke Atkinson and Mr Michael Binnington in Cyprus (Mr Brooks Newmark).

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

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till one minute past Three o'clock, adjourned till Monday 17th March.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker

Mr Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Two o'clock on Monday next.

APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

9    Companies,—(1) Companies (Authorised Minimum) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 729), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command]; and

(2) Companies (Tables A to F) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 739), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command]

[Mr Secretary Hutton].

10    European Communities,—European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 728), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

11    Fees and Charges,—Measuring Instruments (EEC Requirements) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 732), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary John Denham].

12    Financial Services and Markets,—Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 733), dated 13th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Angela Eagle].

13    Health and Safety,—Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 736), dated 11th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell].

14    Income Tax,—Income Tax (Construction Industry Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 740), dated 13th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Jane Kennedy].

15    Insolvency,—(1) Insolvency (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. (N.I.), 2008, No. 118), dated 12th March 2008 [by Statutory Instrument], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw]; and

(2) Insolvency (Amendment) Rules 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 737), dated 13th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

16    National Health Service,—National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 683), dated 6th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Alan Johnson].

17    Pensions,—Occupational Pension Schemes (Employer Debt and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 731), dated 12th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell].

18    Plant Health,—Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 702), dated 7th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary Hilary Benn].

19    Savings Banks,—National Savings Bank (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 734), dated 13th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Angela Eagle].

20    Sex Discrimination,—Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 656), dated 8th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell].

21    Social Security,—(1) Social Security Pensions (Low Earnings Threshold) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 726); and

(2) Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 730),

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

22    Weights and Measures,—Non-automatic Weighing Instruments (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 738), dated 6th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary John Denham].

Other Paper:

23    Government Resources and Accounts,—Report and Accounts of the Public Guardianship Office for 1st April-30th September 2007, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 194] [Secretary Jack Straw].

APPENDIX II

Reports from Select Committees

(2) Justice Reinvestment: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 13th March; to be printed [No. 425-i]

[Mr Alan Beith].