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

1    First Delegated Legislation Committee,—Robert Key reported from the First Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment) Order 2008.

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

2    Second Delegated Legislation Committee,—Sir Nicholas Winterton reported from the Second Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order 2008, the draft Pension Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Cap) Order 2008 and the draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Levies) (Amendment) Regulations 2008.

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

3    European Committee B,—Ann Winterton reported from European Committee B, nominated in respect of European Union Documents relating to Economic Migration to the EU, the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of European Union Documents No. 14490/07 and Addenda 1 and 2, draft Directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third country nationals for the purpose of highly qualified employment, and No. 14491/07 and Addenda 1 and 2, draft Directive on a single application procedure for a single permit for third country nationals to reside and work in the territory of a Member State and on a common set of rights for third country nationals legally residing in a Member State; and supports the Government's intention not to opt in to these Directives.

Resolution to lie upon the Table.

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

4    Nail Bars and Special Treatment Premises (Regulation),—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for the licensing of nail bars and premises where tattooing, cosmetic piercing and other prescribed treatments are carried out; and for connected purposes: And that Dr Phyllis Starkey, Ms Celia Barlow, Mr Clive Betts, Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods, Richard Burden, Ms Sally Keeble, Fiona Mactaggart, Chris McCafferty, Kerry McCarthy, Martin Salter, Anne Snelgrove and Margaret Moran do prepare and bring it in.

5    Nail Bars and Special Treatment Premises (Regulation) Bill,—Dr Phyllis Starkey accordingly presented a Bill to make provision for the licensing of nail bars and premises where tattooing, cosmetic piercing and other prescribed treatments are carried out; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 25th April and to be printed [Bill 87].

6    Ways and Means,—Amendment of the Law,—The Order of the day being read, for resuming the adjourned Debate on the Question proposed on Wednesday 12th March, 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.—(Mr Wayne David.)

Debate to be resumed to-morrow.

7    Justice,—Ordered, That Rosie Cooper be discharged from the Justice Committee and Mrs Linda Riordan be added.—(Tony Cunningham, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

8    Public Petitions,—Public Petitions from—

(1) those concerned about Post Office closures in Cumbria relating to Post Office closures (Cumbria); and

(2) patients, families and friends of the Department of Dermatology in Wirral Hospital NHS Trust relating to Wirral Hospital NHS Trust

were presented and read.

9    Adjournment.

Subject: Winter fuel payments (John Robertson).

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

And it being Ten o'clock, the Motion for the adjournment of the House lapsed, without Question put.

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Wayne David.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till sixteen minutes past Ten o'clock, adjourned 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:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1    Education,—Education (Induction Arrangements for School Teachers) (England) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 657), dated 7th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Ed Balls].

2    Immigration,—Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command]; to be printed [No. 420] [Secretary Jacqui Smith].

3    Police, Northern Ireland,—Supply of Information (Register of Deaths) (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 700), dated 8th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Woodward].

4    Social Security,—(1) Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Dependency) (Permitted Earnings Limits) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 699); and

(2) Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 698),

dated 11th March 2008 [by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell].

Other Paper:

5    Children, Schools and Families,—Paper, entitled Raising Expectations: Enabling the system to deliver [by Command] [Cm. 7348] [Secretary Ed Balls].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1    Draft Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment) Order 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Paul Farrelly and Mr Denis Murphy from the First Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Order) and nominated in substitution Mr Kevan Jones and Ms Dari Taylor.

2    Draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order 2008, the draft Pension Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Cap) Order 2008 and the draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Levies) (Amendment) Regulations 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Richard Burden, Dr Ian Gibson and Mr Andrew Smith from the Second Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Orders and draft Regulations) and nominated in substitution Andrew Mackinlay, Judy Mallaber and John Robertson.

    European Committees

3    European Union Documents No. 14490/07 and Addenda 1 and 2 and No. 14491/07 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to Economic Migration to the EU,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Ms Dawn Butler and Mr Quentin Davies from European Committee B (nominated in respect of the Documents) and nominated in substitution Nick Ainger and Mr Frank Roy.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1    Communities and Local Government,—(1) Existing Housing and Climate Change: Seventh Report from the Communities and Local Government Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 432];

(2) Planning Skills: Memoranda laid before the Committee, to be published;

(3) Community Cohesion and Migration: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published;

(4) Communities and Local Government Spring Supplementary Estimates 2008: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published; and

(5) Local Government Finance: Waste: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published

[Dr Phyllis Starkey].

2    Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills,—(1) Withdrawal of funding for equivalent or lower level qualifications (ELQs): Third Report from the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills 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 17th January and 5th February [No. 187-I and -II]; and

(2) Biosecurity in UK research laboratories: Minutes of Evidence taken before Biosecurity in UK Research Laboratories Sub-Committee of the Committee; to be printed [No. 360-i]

[Mr Phil Willis].

3    Public Accounts,—Major Projects Report 2007: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee of Public Accounts; to be printed [No. 433-i] [Mr Edward Leigh].

4    Treasury,—(1) The 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review: Government Response to the First Report from the Committee, Session 2007-08: Sixth Special Report from the Treasury Committee; to be printed [No. 428];

(2) The 2007 Pre-Budget Report: Government Response to the Second Report from the Committee, Session 2007-08: Seventh Special Report from the Committee; to be printed [No. 429]; and

(3) The 2008 Budget: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 430-i]

[John McFall].