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

1    First Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mr Roger Gale reported from the First Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008.

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

2    Second Delegated Legislation Committee,—Sir John Butterfill reported from the Second Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Local Involvement Networks (Duty of Services-Providers to Allow Entry) Regulations 2008.

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

3    Third Delegated Legislation Committee,—Joan Walley reported from the Third Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Prescribed Criteria) (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2008.

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

4    Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee,—Robert Key reported from the Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2008.

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

5    Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee,—John Bercow reported from the Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Categories of Casino Regulations 2008 and the draft Gambling (Geographical Distribution of Large and Small Casino Premises Licences) Order 2008.

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

6    European Committee C,—Mr Martyn Jones reported from European Committee C, nominated in respect of a European Union Document relating to Insolvency and Second Chances, the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of European Union Document No. 13832/07, Commission Communication, Overcoming the Stigma of Business Failure—for a Second Chance Policy—implementing the Lisbon partnership for growth and jobs; agrees that it is desirable to make a distinction between honest and dishonest failure; acknowledges the Commission's assertion that Member States need to encourage entrepreneurs who have failed through no fault of their own to try again; and further acknowledges that the interests of creditors of the failed business, and potential creditors, suppliers and customers who support the new venture need to be sufficiently protected.

Resolution to lie upon the Table.

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

7    Sustainable Energy (Local Plans) Bill,—Alan Simpson, supported by Mr Tim Yeo, Julia Goldsworthy, Colin Challen, Mr Elliot Morley, Mr Michael Fallon, Mr Michael Meacher, Mr Elfyn Llwyd, Jim Dowd, Steve Webb, John Battle and Mr David Drew, presented a Bill to promote energy efficiency; to require specified bodies to publish sustainable energy plans; to make provision for the transfer of functions to principal councils; 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 92].

8    Opposition Day [8th allotted day],—It being an allotted day at the disposal of the Leader of the Opposition in pursuance of Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business), the House proceeded to consider Opposition business.

Iraq inquiry,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House calls for an inquiry by an independent committee of privy counsellors to review the way in which the responsibilities of Government were discharged in relation to Iraq, and all matters relevant thereto, in the period leading up to military action in that country in March 2003 and its aftermath and to make recommendations on lessons to be drawn for the future—(Mr William Hague);

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 'notes the Resolutions of this House of 31st October 2006 and 11th June 2007 on an Iraq inquiry; recognises that this House has already twice voted against holding an inquiry at these times; further recognises that a time will come when an inquiry is appropriate; but declines to make a proposal for a further inquiry at this time, whilst important operations are under way in Iraq to support the people and government of Iraq', instead thereof.—(Secretary David Miliband.)

And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, James Duddridge, Jeremy Wright: 271.

Tellers for the Noes, Alison Seabeck, Mr Dave Watts: 299.

So the Question was negatived.

And the Question, That the proposed words be there added, being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 31 (Questions on amendments);

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Alison Seabeck, Mr Dave Watts: 299.

Tellers for the Noes, Jeremy Wright, James Duddridge: 259.

So the Question was agreed to.

The Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to.

Resolved, That this House notes the Resolutions of this House of 31st October 2006 and 11th June 2007 on an Iraq inquiry; recognises that this House has already twice voted against holding an inquiry at these times; further recognises that a time will come when an inquiry is appropriate; but declines to make a proposal for a further inquiry at this time, whilst important operations are underway in Iraq to support the people and government of Iraq.

9    Local Government Finance,—Resolved, That the Local Government Finance Special Grant Report (No. 129) on the grant to be paid towards the cost of implementing the new statutory minimum bus travel concession in England (House of Commons Paper No. 256), which was laid before this House on 19th February, be approved.—(Ms Rosie Winterton.)

Wednesday 26th March 2008

10    Social Security,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Child Benefit Up-rating Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 6th February, be approved—(Alison Seabeck):—It was agreed to.

11    Social Security, Northern Ireland,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Guardian's Allowance Up-rating (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 6th February, be approved—(Alison Seabeck):—It was agreed to.

12    Social Security,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Guardian's Allowance Up-rating Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 6th February, be approved—(Alison Seabeck):—It was agreed to.

13    Tax Credits,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Tax Credits Up-rating Regulations 2008, which were laid before this House on 6th February, be approved—(Alison Seabeck):—It was agreed to.

14    Proceeds of Crime,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cash Searches: Code of Practice) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 19th February, be approved—(Alison Seabeck):—It was agreed to.

15    Proceeds of Crime,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Serious Crime Act 2007 (Amendment of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 20th February, be approved—(Alison Seabeck):—It was agreed to.

16    Proceeds of Crime,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Code of Practice) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 19th February, be approved—(Alison Seabeck):—It was agreed to.

17    Official Statistics,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Official Statistics Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 26th February, be approved—(Alison Seabeck):—It was agreed to.

18    Consolidation, &c., Bills,—Ordered, That Mr Nick Clegg be discharged from the Joint Committee on Consolidation, &c., Bills, and Mr Alistair Carmichael be added.—(Rosemary McKenna, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

19    Finance and Services,—Ordered, That Sir Alan Haselhurst be added to the Finance and Services Committee.—(Rosemary McKenna, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

20    Adjournment.

Subject: Tina Thompson and war widows' pensions (Lynda Waltho).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Alison Seabeck.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till twenty-one minutes past Twelve 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:

Paper subject to Negative Resolution:

1    Social Security,—Social Security (Jobcentre Plus Interviews for Partners) Amendment Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 759), dated 18th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell].

Other Papers:

2    Foreign and Commonwealth Office,—Report on Human Rights for 2007 [by Command] [Cm. 7340] [Secretary David Miliband].

3    Governance of Britain,—Paper, entitled Governance of Britain: Constitutional Renewal (3 volumes) [by Command] [Cm. 7342-I, -II and -III] [Secretary Jack Straw].

4    Government Trading Funds,—(1) Treasury Minute, dated 25th March 2008, on the Defence Support Group Trading Fund; and

(2) Treasury Minute, dated 25th March 2008, on the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency Trading Fund

[by Act] [Yvette Cooper].

5    National Audit,—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Financial Reporting and Financial Management: General Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General for 2007 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 417] [Clerk of the House].

6    Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement),—Report on the Inquiry into the Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters (Volumes 1 and 2) [by Act] [Mr Secretary Woodward].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1    Draft Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Hilary Armstrong from the First Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Order) and nominated in substitution Andrew Miller.

2    Draft Local Involvement Networks (Duty of Services-Providers to Allow Entry) Regulations 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Ann Keen and Mr Jeremy Hunt from the Second Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations) and nominated in substitution Dawn Primarolo and Jeremy Wright.

3    Draft Categories of Casino Regulations 2008 and the draft Gambling (Geographical Distribution of Large and Small Casino Premises Licences) Order 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Richard Caborn and Mr George Howarth from the Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations and draft Order) and nominated in substitution Mr Charles Clarke and Mr David Crausby.

    European Committees

4    European Union Document No. 13832/07, relating to Insolvency and Second Chances,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Anne Moffat from European Committee C (nominated in respect of the Document) and nominated in substitution Jim Sheridan.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1    Communities and Local Government,—Communities and Local Government Winter Supplementary Estimates 2007: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published [Dr Phyllis Starkey].

2    Defence,—Recruitment and retention in the Armed Forces: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Defence Committee; to be printed [No. 424-i] [Mr James Arbuthnot].

3    Environmental Audit,—(1) Post-Kyoto: The international context for progress on climate change: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environmental Audit Committee; to be printed [No. 355-iv]; and

(2) The Challenge of Climate Change: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[Mr Tim Yeo].

4    Home Affairs,—Domestic Violence: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Home Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 263-vi] [Keith Vaz].

5    Human Rights,—Scrutiny of Mental Health Legislation: Follow Up: Sixteenth Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights, 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 3rd and 10th December and 9th January [No. 455] [Mr Andrew Dismore].

[W.H., No. 45]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

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

Subjects:

Remploy (Frank Cook).

Prison policy (Mr Philip Hollobone).

Mission in Helmand Province (Paul Flynn).

Rural development overseas (Martin Horwood).

Town and village greens and planning (Tom Levitt).

A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned—(Mr Sadiq Khan);

And it being Two o'clock, the sitting was adjourned without Question put, till to-morrow.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker

CORRIGENDUM

European Union Document No. 6427/08, relating to The European Police Office (EUROPOL), has been referred to European Committee B.