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

1    St. Austell Market Bill,—The First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means reported from the Committee on Unopposed Bills, That it had examined the allegations contained in the Preamble to the St. Austell Market Bill and had verbally amended the same, and found the same, as amended, to be true; and had gone through the Bill and made Amendments thereunto.

Bill, as amended in the Committee, to lie upon the Table.

2    Health and Safety (Offences) Bill,—Mr Greg Pope reported from the Health and Safety (Offences) Bill Committee, That it had gone through the Bill and directed him to report the same, without Amendment.

Bill, not amended in the Public Bill Committee, to be considered on Friday 13th June.

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

3    Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mr Christopher Chope reported from the Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee the Non-Domestic Rating (Unoccupied Property) (England) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 386).

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

4    Welsh Grand Committee,—Mr Martin Caton reported from the Welsh Grand Committee, That it had considered the matter of the Budget Statement and its implications for Wales, referred to it on 20th February.

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

5    Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords as follows:

Children and Young Persons Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill to make provision about the delivery of local authority social work services for children and young persons; to amend Parts 2 and 3 of the Children Act 1989; to make further provision about the functions of local authorities and others in relation to children and young persons; to make provision about the enforcement of care standards in relation to certain establishments or agencies connected with children; to make provision about the independent review of determinations relating to adoption; and for connected purposes; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.

6    Children and Young Persons Bill [Lords],—The Children and Young Persons Bill [Lords] was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 96].

Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Children and Young Persons Bill [Lords] be printed [Bill 96-EN].

7    Microgeneration (Definition) (Amendment) Bill,—Mr David Drew presented a Bill to amend the definition of "microgeneration" in certain Acts: 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 95].

8    Local Transport Bill [Lords],—The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Local Transport Bill [Lords];

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

An Amendment was proposed to the Question, to leave out from the word 'That' to the end of the Question and add the words 'this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Local Transport Bill [Lords] because it encourages the introduction of Quality Contract schemes to re-regulate bus networks, thus preventing free competition between bus operators, undermining service quality for passengers and jeopardising the partnerships between operators and local authorities that have helped to improve service quality; because it fails to give due weight to the importance of consultation and local consent when local congestion charging schemes are considered; and because it transfers revenue-raising powers to the National Assembly for Wales without proper constitutional justification and in doing so allows Wales to be used as a test bed for the Government's untried, untested national road pricing scheme', instead thereof.—(Mrs Theresa Villiers.)

And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made;

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Richard Benyon, James Duddridge: 156.

Tellers for the Noes, Tony Cunningham, Mr Sadiq Khan: 347.

9    Local Transport Bill [Lords] (Programme),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 83A (Programme motions), That the following provisions shall apply to the Local Transport Bill [Lords]:

Committal

1. The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee.

Proceedings in Public Bill Committee

2. Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Thursday 8th May 2008.

3. The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on which it meets.

Consideration and Third Reading

4. Proceedings on consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the day on which those proceedings are commenced.

5. Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.

6. Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings on consideration and Third Reading.

Other proceedings

7. Any other proceedings on the Bill (including any proceedings on consideration of any message from the Lords) may be programmed—(Mr Wayne David):—It was agreed to.

10    Deferred Divisions,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions), That, at this day's sitting, Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply to the Motions in the name of Secretary Hazel Blears relating to Local Government and Secretary Alan Johnson relating to the National Health Service—(Mr Wayne David):—It was agreed to.

11    Local Transport Bill [Lords] [Money],—Her Majesty's Recommendation having been signified to the proposed Motion relating to Local Transport Bill [Lords] [Money];

A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 52 (Money resolutions and ways and means resolutions in connection with bills), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Local Transport Bill [Lords], it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of—

(a) any expenditure incurred under or by virtue of the Act by a Minister of the Crown or government department, and

(b) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable under any other Act out of money so provided—(Mr Wayne David):—It was agreed to.

12    Local Transport Bill [Lords] [Ways and Means],—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 52 (Money resolutions and ways and means resolutions in connection with bills), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Local Transport Bill [Lords], it is expedient to authorise—

(1) the charging of fees in respect of the cancellation or continuation in force of the registration of services under section 6 of the Transport Act 1985;

(2) the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund—(Mr Wayne David):—It was agreed to.

13    Insolvency and Second Chances,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 119 (European Standing Committees), That this House 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—(Mr Wayne David):—It was agreed to.

14    Local Government,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 10th March, be approved—(Mr Wayne David):—It was agreed to.

15    National Health Service,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Local Involvement Networks (Duty of Services-Providers to Allow Entry) Regulations 2008, which were laid before this House on 18th February, be approved—(Mr Wayne David):—It was agreed to.

16    Children and Young Persons,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Prescribed Criteria) (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2008, which were laid before this House on 5th March, be approved—(Mr Wayne David):—It was agreed to.

17    Town and Country Planning,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2008, which were laid before this House on 27th February, be approved—(Mr Wayne David):—It was agreed to.

18    Betting, Gaming and Lotteries,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Categories of Casino Regulations 2008, which were laid before this House on 26th February, be approved—(Mr Wayne David):—It was agreed to.

19    Betting, Gaming and Lotteries,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Gambling (Geographical Distribution of Large and Small Casino Premises Licences) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 26th February, be approved—(Mr Wayne David):—It was agreed to.

20    Business of the House,—Ordered, That, at the sitting on Monday 31st March, Standing Order No. 17 (Delegated legislation (negative procedure)) shall not apply to the Motion in the name of Mr David Cameron relating to Banking (S.I., 2008, No. 432).—(Mr Wayne David.)

21    Justice,—Ordered, That David Howarth be discharged from the Justice Committee and Mr David Heath be added.—(Rosemary McKenna, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

22    Public Petitions,—Public Petitions from—

(1) Rt Rev Neville Chamberlain, Master of Hugh Sexey's Hospital, and others of like disposition relating to Hugh Sexey's Hospital; and

(2) FOCUS and The Richmond Fellowship Scotland relating to means tested benefits

were presented and read.

23    Adjournment.

Subject: Co-operative model in education in Portsmouth (Sarah McCarthy-Fry).

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

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till fourteen minutes to Eight 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 Negative Resolution:

1    Immigration,—Immigration (Disposal of Property) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 786), dated 20th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jacqui Smith].

2    Universities of Oxford and Cambridge,—Statute, dated 27th November 2007, made by the Governing Body of Christ's College in the University of Cambridge amending the Statutes of the College [by Act] [Secretary Jack Straw].

Other Papers:

3    Access to Justice,—Direction given by the Lord Chancellor under section 5(6) of the Access to Justice Act 1999, imposing requirements on the Legal Services Commission as to the services to be funded from specified amounts paid into the Community Legal Services Fund for 2008-09 [by Act] [Secretary Jack Straw].

4    Government Resources and Accounts,—Report and Accounts of the Design Council for 2006-07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 95] [Secretary John Denham].

5    Health Service Commissioner,—Joint Report by the Local Government Ombudsman and the Health Service Ombudsman for England on Injustice in residential care [by Act]; to be printed [No. 421] [Clerk of the House].

6    Human Rights,—Government Response to the Ninth Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Session 2007-08, on Counter-Terrorism Policy and Human Rights (Eighth Report): Counter-Terrorism Bill [by Command] [Cm. 7344] [Secretary Jacqui Smith].

7    National Audit,—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Protecting consumers? Removing retail price controls [by Act]; to be printed [No. 342] [Clerk of the House].

8    Police (Northern Ireland),—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Northern Ireland Policing Board: Best Value Performance Plan for 2007-08 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 444] [Clerk of the House].

9    Public Accounts,—Treasury Minutes on the First to Sixth Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2007-08 [by Command] [Cm. 7323] [Angela Eagle].

10    Registration Service,—Marriage, divorce and adoption statistics: Review of the Registrar General on marriages and divorces in 2005, and adoptions in 2006, in England and Wales [by Act] [Angela Eagle].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1    Temporary and Agency Workers (Equal Treatment) Bill,—The Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Temporary and Agency Workers (Equal Treatment) Bill Committee: Lorely Burt, Ms Dawn Butler, Philip Davies, Mr Jonathan Djanogly, Mr Frank Doran, Jim Dowd, Mr John Heppell, Miss Julie Kirkbride, Mr Greg Knight, Mr Peter Lilley, Tony Lloyd, Mr Pat McFadden, Mr Jim McGovern, Andrew Miller, Adam Price and Mrs Betty Williams.

2    Draft Early Removal of Short-Term and Long-Term Prisoners (Amendment of Requisite Period) Order 2008 and the draft Early Removal of Fixed-Term Prisoners (Amendment of Eligibility Period) Order 2008:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Orders 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: Mr Peter Bone, Peter Bottomley, Mr Douglas Carswell, Mr Quentin Davies, Mr Edward Garnier, Mr David Hanson, David Howarth, Mr Nick Hurd, Mr Fraser Kemp, Mr Sadiq Khan, Mr Peter Kilfoyle, Mr Alan Meale, Anne Moffat, Mr Elliot Morley, John Reid, Lynda Waltho and Jenny Willott.

3    Draft Immigration (Registration Card) Order 2008:

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

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Hilary Armstrong, John Battle, Mr Clive Betts, Mr David Blunkett, Mr Crispin Blunt, Tom Brake, Mr Liam Byrne, Mr Richard Caborn, Mr Alan Campbell, Mr William Cash, Mr Kenneth Clarke, Mr David Curry, Damian Green, Dr Stephen Ladyman, Ian Lucas, Mr John Spellar and Jenny Willott.

4    Draft Land Registration (Network Access) Rules 2008:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Rules to the Third Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr John Cummings Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Jim Cousins, Mrs Ann Cryer, David T. C. Davies (Monmouth), Mr Stephen Dorrell, Mr Nigel Evans, Mark Fisher, Dr Ian Gibson, Stephen Hesford, David Howarth, Mr Nick Hurd, Glenda Jackson, Mr Sadiq Khan, Mrs Eleanor Laing, Mr Ken Purchase, Geraldine Smith, Jenny Willott and Mr Michael Wills.

5    Non-Domestic Rating (Unoccupied Property) (England) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 386),—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Parmjit Dhanda and Mr Elliot Morley from the Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the Regulations) and nominated in substitution John Healey and John McDonnell.

6    Draft Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008 and the draft Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments) (Taxes and National Insurance) Order 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Lindsay Hoyle from the Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Orders) and nominated in substitution Chris Mole.

7    Draft Sex Discrimination (Amendment of Legislation) Regulations 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Charles Clarke from the Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations) and nominated in substitution Mr Andy Reed.

    European Committees

8    European Union Documents No. 5849/08 and Addendum 1 and No. 5862/08 and Addenda 1 to 3, relating to the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2020 and Review of the Emissions Trading Scheme: The Committee of Selection has nominated thirteen Members to serve on European Committee A, nominated in respect of the Documents: Gregory Barker, Mr Richard Benyon, Mr Michael Clapham, Mr James Clappison, Ms Katy Clark, Mr David Clelland, Tony Cunningham, David Lepper, Miss Anne McIntosh, Dr Doug Naysmith, Steve Webb, Mr Mike Weir and Mr Phil Woolas.

9    The Speaker has appointed Mr Eric Illsley Chairman of European Committee A, nominated in respect of European Union Document No. 16071/07, on Fisheries: control, inspection and sanction systems.

10    European Union Document No. 5947/08 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to Diplomatic and consular protection of Union citizens in third countries, has been referred to European Committee B.

11    European Union Document No. 7210/08 and Addendum 1, relating to Financial Management, has been referred to European Committee B.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1    Business and Enterprise,—Companies House: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Business and Enterprise Committee; to be printed [No. 456-i] [Peter Luff].

2    Children, Schools and Families,—Looked-after children: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Children, Schools and Families Committee; to be printed [No. 442-ii] [Mr Barry Sheerman].

3    Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,—Committee on Climate Change: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 462-i] [Mr Michael Jack].

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

(2) Minutes of the Public Deliberations of the Committee; to be printed [No. 361-vi]; and

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

[Michael Connarty].

5    Foreign Affairs,—(1) Overseas Territories: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Foreign Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 147-v]; and

(2) Global Security: Japan and Korea: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[Mr Mike Gapes].

6    Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills,—(1) The UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation: Government Response to the First Report from the Committee, Session 2007-08: Third Special Report from the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee; to be printed [No. 459]; and

(2) Renewable Electricity-Generation Technologies: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 216-iv]

[Mr Phil Willis].

7    Public Accounts,—NHS Pay Modernisation: New Contracts for general practice services in England: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee of Public Accounts; to be printed [No. 463-i] [Mr Edward Leigh].

8    Public Administration,—(1) Work of the Committee in 2007: Government Response to the Committee's Fourth Report of Session 2007-08: Fifth Special Report from the Select Committee on Public Administration, to be printed [No 458]; and

(2) Political Campaigning by Charities: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 451-i]

[Dr Tony Wright].

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

10    Transport,—(1) Ticketing and Concessionary Travel on Public Transport: Fifth Report from the Transport Committee, with Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 84];

(2) The London Underground and the Public-Private Partnership Agreements: Government Response to the Second Report from the Committee, Session 2007-08: Second Special Report from the Committee; to be printed [No. 461]; and

(3) Road Safety: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 460-i]

[Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody].

11    Treasury,—(1) Re-appointment of Dr Andrew Sentance to the Monetary Policy Committee: Eighth Report from the Treasury Committee, with the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee, and Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 454]; and

(2) The February 2008 Inflation Report: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee, and Memoranda; to be printed [No. 453]

[John McFall].

[W.H., No. 46]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

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

Subjects:

Government policy on park home sites (Richard Younger-Ross).

Delivery of public services in the South West by Southwest One and IBM (Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger).

Development of nuclear weapons at Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston (Jeremy Corbyn).

Changes in planning law affecting high street shops (Martin Linton).

Recycling of plastics (Dr John Pugh).

Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Liz Blackman.)

And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker