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

1    First Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mrs Janet Dean reported from the First Delegated Legislation Committee the 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.

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

2    European Committee A,—Mr Eric Illsley reported from European Committee A, nominated in respect of the European Union Document relating to Fisheries: Control, Inspection and Sanction Systems, the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of European Union Document No. 16071/07, European Court of Auditors Special Report No. 7/2007 on the control, inspection and sanction systems relating to the rules on conservation of Community fisheries resources; and supports the Government's aim of contributing positively to discussions for further improvements in fisheries management and control, thereby contributing to the long-term sustainability of fish stocks.

Resolution to lie upon the Table.

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

3    Housing and Regeneration Bill [Ways and Means] (No. 2),—Resolved, That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Housing and Regeneration Bill, it is expedient to authorise—

(1) provision about the fiscal consequences of transfer schemes, and

(2) consequential amendment of fiscal legislation.—(Mr Iain Wright.)

4    Housing and Regeneration Bill,—The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Housing and Regeneration Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee.

A Clause (NC11) (Possession orders relating to certain tenancies)—(Mr Iain Wright)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.

Another Clause (NC12) (Shared ownership leases: protection for certain leases)—(Alison Seabeck)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.

Another Clause (NC13) (Service charges: provision of information and designated accounts)—(Alison Seabeck)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.

Another Clause (NC14) (Duty to give financial assistance in respect of certain disposals)—(Mr Iain Wright)—brought up, and read the first time.

Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time.

And it being Nine o'clock, the Deputy Speaker put the Question already proposed from the Chair, pursuant to Order [27th November]:—It was agreed to.

Clause added to the Bill.

The Deputy Speaker then put the Question on the remaining new Clauses moved by a Minister of the Crown.

Other Clauses (NC15) (Companies exempt from audit), (NC16) (Exempt companies: accountant's report), (NC17) (Exempt companies: reporting accountant) (NC18) (Application of Companies Act), (NC19) (Exempt companies: extraordinary audit), (NC20) (Interim manager), (NC21) (Right to acquire), (NC22) (Interpretation: "publicly funded"), (NC23) (Interpretation: "remained in the social rented sector"), (NC24) (Interpretation: other expressions), (NC25) (Right to acquire: supplemental), (NC26) (Right to acquire: consequential amendments), (NC27) (Exercise of enforcement powers) and (NC28) (Amalgamation)—(Mr Iain Wright)—brought up, read the first time and added to the Bill.

The Deputy Speaker then put the Questions on new Clauses selected by the Speaker for separate decision.

Another Clause (NC1) (Consultation Principles)—(Simon Hughes)—brought up and read the first time.

Question put, That the Clause be added to the Bill.

Tellers for the Ayes, Dan Rogerson, Richard Younger-Ross: 210.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Bob Blizzard, Tony Cunningham: 263.

Another Clause (NC8) (Subsidy arrangements: formula and exclusions)—(Mr Austin Mitchell)—brought up and read the first time.

Question put, That the Clause be added to the Bill.

Tellers for the Ayes, David Taylor, Kelvin Hopkins: 74.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Bob Blizzard, Tony Cunningham: 259.

Another Clause (NC32) (Definition of 'community land trust')—(Grant Shapps)—brought up and read the first time.

Question put, That the Clause be added to the Bill.

Tellers for the Ayes, Angela Watkinson, Mr Nick Hurd: 186.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Bob Blizzard, Tony Cunningham: 278.

The Deputy Speaker then put the Questions on the remaining Amendments and new Schedules moved by a Minister of the Crown.

Amendments (Nos. 16 to 24, 60, 25, 135, 136, 29, 26, 6, 30, 61 to 128 and 31 to 50) made to the Bill.

Schedules (NS1) (Transfer Schemes: Tax), (NS2) (Possession orders relating to certain tenancies) and (NS3) (Service charges: provision of information and designated accounts)—(Liz Blackman)—brought up, read the first time and added to the Bill.

Other Amendments (Nos. 27, 51, 7, 52, 53, 8, 129, 54 to 56, 130, 57, 9, 28, 58 and 59) made to the Bill.

A Motion being made, That the Bill be now read the third time;

Mr Nicholas Brown, by Her Majesty's Command, acquainted the House, That Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Bill, gives her Consent, as far as Her Majesty's interest is concerned, That the House may do therein as it shall think fit.

Mr Nicholas Brown, by Command of the Prince of Wales, acquainted the House, That His Royal Highness, having been informed of the purport of the Bill, gives his Consent, as far as the Prince of Wales's interest is concerned, That the House may do therein as it shall think fit.

And the Question being proposed;

And it being Ten o'clock the Deputy Speaker put the Question, pursuant to Order [27th November]:—It was agreed to.

The Bill was accordingly read the third time, and passed.

5    Banking (S.I., 2008, No. 432),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Northern Rock plc Transfer Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 432), dated 21st February 2008, a copy of which was laid before this House on 21st February, be annulled—(Mr Mark Hoban);

And the Deputy Speaker's opinion as to the decision of the Question being challenged, the Division was deferred till to-morrow, pursuant to Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions).

6    Taxes,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments) (Taxes and National Insurance) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 20th February, be approved—(Steve McCabe):—It was agreed to.

7    Companies,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments etc) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 27th February, be approved—(Steve McCabe):—It was agreed to.

8    Sex Discrimination,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Sex Discrimination (Amendment of Legislation) Regulations 2008, which were laid before this House on 6th March, be approved—(Steve McCabe):—It was agreed to.

9    Public Petition,—A Public Petition from Marcus, Cain, Dean and Joshua Perry and others relating to the Perry family (citizenship) was presented and read.

10    Adjournment.

Subject: Immigration status of non-UK nationals resident in the United Kingdom: case of Ms Deborah Phillips (David Davis).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Steve McCabe.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till seven minutes to Twelve 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 delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on Friday 28th March 2008 pursuant to Standing Order No. 159 (Presentation of statutory instruments):

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1    Road Traffic,—Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (Penalty Charge Notices, Enforcement and Adjudication) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 913), dated 27th March 2008, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Mr Secretary Murphy].

2    Taxes,—Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (virt-x Exchange Limited) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 914), dated 27th March 2008, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Jane Kennedy].

Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 31st March 2008:

Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution:

3    Representation of the People,—Draft Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Woodward].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

4    Children and Young Persons,—Childcare (Voluntary Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 793), dated 19th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Ed Balls].

5    Universities of Oxford and Cambridge,—Statute, dated 6th December 2007, made by the Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge, amending Statute B of the University [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

Other Papers:

6    Animal Health,—Return of expenditure incurred and prosecutions taken under the Animal Health Act 1981 and incidences of disease in imported animals for the year 2007 [by Act] [Secretary Hilary Benn].

7    Children, Schools and Families,—Paper, entitled Promoting achievement, valuing success: A strategy for 14-19 qualifications [by Command] [Cm. 7354] [Secretary Ed Balls].

8    Constitutional Reform,—Review of the Administration of Justice in the Courts by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales [by Act]; to be printed [No. 448] [Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales].

9    Enterprise,—Plan of the Office of Fair Trading for 2008-09 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 374] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

10    Health Professions,—Report and Accounts of the Health Professions Council for 2006-07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Statutory Instrument]; to be printed [No. 164] [Secretary Jack Straw].

11    House of Commons Members Estimate,—Second Report from the House of Commons Members Estimate Committee on the Review of Members' Allowances: Issues; to be printed [No. 464] [The Speaker].

12    Parliamentary Constituencies,—Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland: Fifth Periodical Report [by Command] [Cm. 7321] [Mr Secretary Woodward].

13    Public Processions (Northern Ireland),—Report and Financial Statements of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland for 2006-07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 392] [Mr Secretary Woodward].

14    Treasury,—Statement of Guarantee given on 31st March 2008 in respect temporary borrowing by the British Waterways Board in pursuance of Section 4 of the Miscellaneous Financial Provisions Act 1983 [by Act] [Angela Eagle].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1    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,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Sadiq Khan and Mr Alan Meale from the First Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Orders) and nominated in substitution Dr Ian Gibson and Siobhain McDonagh.

    European Committees

2    European Union Document No. 16071/07, relating to Fisheries: Control, Inspection and Sanction Systems,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Ms Dawn Butler and Ms Karen Buck from European Committee A (nominated in respect of the Document) and nominated in substitution Nia Griffith and Mr Fraser Kemp.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1    Children, Schools and Families,—The Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Children's Plan: Second Report from the Children, Schools and Families Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 213] [Mr Barry Sheerman].

2    Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills,—Biosecurity in UK research laboratories: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Biosecurity in UK research laboratories Sub-Committee of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee; to be printed [No. 360-ii] [Mr Phil Willis].

3    Public Accounts,—(1) The budget for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Fourteenth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 85];

(2) The Pensions Regulator: Progress in establishing its new regulatory arrangements: Fifteenth Report from the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 122];

(3) Government on the internet: Progress in delivering information and services online: Sixteenth Report from the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 143];

(4) Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Managing risk in the Overseas Territories: Seventeenth Report from the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 176];

(5) Improving corporate functions using shared services: Eighteenth Report from the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 190];

(6) BBC Procurement: Nineteenth Report from the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 221]; and

(7) Increasing employment rates for ethnic minorities: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 472-i]

[Mr Edward Leigh].

4    Welsh Affairs,—The provision of cross-border public services for Wales:

(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Welsh Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 401-iii]; and

(2) Memoranda laid before the Committee, to be published

[Dr Hywel Francis].