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

1    Transport for London Bill [Lords],—Mr Christopher Fraser reported from the Committee on the Transport for London Bill [Lords], That it had examined the allegations contained in the Preamble of the Bill and found the same 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    Third Delegated Legislation Committee,—John Cummings reported from the Third Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Land Registration (Network Access) Rules 2008.

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

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

That it is expedient that a Joint Committee of the Lords and Commons be appointed to consider and report on any draft Marine Bill presented to both Houses by a Minister of the Crown.

4    Illegally Logged Timber (Prohibition of Sale and Distribution),—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make it an offence for any importer or distributor to sell or distribute in the United Kingdom any wood harvested, manufactured or otherwise dealt with illegally in the country from which the wood originated or through which it passed or was transhipped; and for connected purposes: And that Barry Gardiner, Margaret Beckett, Mr Elliot Morley, Eric Joyce, Mr Andrew Dismore, Chris Huhne, Alun Michael, Joan Walley, Mr Graham Stuart, Mr James Paice, Mr Ian Cawsey and John Mann do prepare and bring it in.

5    Illegally Logged Timber (Prohibition of Sale and Distribution) Bill,—Barry Gardiner accordingly presented a Bill to make it an offence for any importer or distributor to sell or distribute in the United Kingdom any wood harvested, manufactured or otherwise dealt with illegally in the country from which the wood originated or through which it passed or was transhipped; 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 94].

6    Opposition Day [9th allotted day],—It being an allotted day at the disposal of the leader of the second largest opposition party in pursuance of Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business), the House proceeded to consider Opposition business.

The economy, repossessions and the housing market,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes with concern the risk of recession in the United Kingdom economy; recognises that although the collapse of the United States mortgage market and the global 'credit crunch' are a catalyst to the current downturn in the United Kingdom economy, record levels of personal debt and the extreme bubble in the housing market were already major destabilising factors; further notes that because of inflation and weak public finances there is little scope for stimulating demand; applauds the efforts of central banks to reintroduce stability into the world money markets, but warns against the use of taxpayers' money in bailouts which cause serious concerns about moral hazard; further notes with dismay rising levels of personal debt, exacerbated by high mortgage interest rates; further notes the rising evidence of a major slowdown in the United Kingdom housing market; registers with concern the increasing number of people requesting help regarding mortgage payments; further notes with concern that repossession orders are now at the same level as in 1990; regrets the Government's failure both to admit the current problems in the housing market and to act to prevent mass home repossessions; calls upon the Government to consider options being used in the United States, particularly to encourage banks to explore options other than repossession; and further calls upon the Bank of England to include house prices in the measure of inflation—(Dr Vincent Cable);

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 'acknowledges the resilience of the United Kingdom economy, which grew faster than any other major economy in 2007 and in which employment is at record levels; notes that the record of economic stability since 1997 has laid the foundation for rising home ownership, with the number of owner-occupier households rising by 1.8 million since 1997; further notes that household finances remain strong, with household assets worth over £7.5 trillion, more than five times the level of personal debt; believes that the United Kingdom is well placed to respond to the challenges arising from the continuing international financial turbulence; applauds the Government for managing the public finances within its fiscal rules; recognises that the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee has cut interest rates twice in recent months; further acknowledges that mortgage interest rates are currently around half the level of those reached in the early 1990s and that the proportion of repossessions is less than one third of the rate in the peak year of 1991; welcomes the Council of Mortgage Lenders' recent statement, which sets out the steps that the industry is taking to support borrowers facing repossession, including working with debt advisers, pro-actively identifying at-risk borrowers and only repossessing as a last resort; and supports the Government's initiatives to assist home ownership, including new measures to encourage long term fixed rate borrowing and new forms of shared equity', instead thereof.—(Jane Kennedy.)

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

7    Deferred Divisions,—The Deputy Speaker announced the result of the Division which had been deferred to this day, pursuant to Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions):

Banking (S.I., 2008, No. 432),—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.

Ayes: 124.

Noes: 322.

So the Question was agreed to.

8    Opposition Day [9th allotted day],—The economy, repossessions and the housing market,—The Question being again proposed, That the original words stand part of the Question;

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

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Bob Russell, John Hemming: 71.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Frank Roy, Tony Cunningham: 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);

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Frank Roy, Tony Cunningham: 291.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Crispin Blunt, Mr Richard Benyon: 209.

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

Resolved, That this House acknowledges the resilience of the United Kingdom economy, which grew faster than any other major economy in 2007 and in which employment is at record levels; notes that the record of economic stability since 1997 has laid the foundation for rising home ownership, with the number of owner-occupier households rising by 1.8 million since 1997; further notes that household finances remain strong, with household assets worth over £7.5 trillion, more than five times the level of personal debt; believes that the United Kingdom is well placed to respond to the challenges arising from the continuing international financial turbulence; applauds the Government for managing the public finances within its fiscal rules; recognises that the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee has cut interest rates twice in recent months; further acknowledges that mortgage interest rates are currently around half the level of those reached in the early 1990s and that the proportion of repossessions is less than one third of the rate in the peak year of 1991; welcomes the Council of Mortgage Lenders' recent statement, which sets out the steps that the industry is taking to support borrowers facing repossession, including working with debt advisers, pro-actively identifying at-risk borrowers and only repossessing as a last resort; and supports the Government's initiatives to assist home ownership, including new measures to encourage long term fixed rate borrowing and new forms of shared equity.

Government policy on Heathrow Airport,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House recognises the urgent need to curb carbon dioxide emissions to tackle climate change; condemns the Government for following policies that will instead lead to significant growth in emissions from the aviation sector; particularly condemns plans to allow a third runway at Heathrow; believes that the consultation paper Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport was deeply flawed and is concerned at the undue influence BAA played in the drafting of the paper; notes that the paper significantly overstated the economic case for a third runway while greatly underplaying the serious environmental consequences, including, as well as the extra emissions from flights, the increase in intensity and distribution of noise for those living under the flight path through runway alternation and the threat of forced relocation for the inhabitants of Sipson village; and calls on the Government to withdraw permanently plans for a third runway at Heathrow, to keep the present cap of 480,000 flights per year as opposed to the 700,000 envisaged in the consultation document, to rule out any further increase in airport capacity in the South East, and to indicate to the aviation sector that it will have to live within its existing infrastructure capacity—(Norman Baker);

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 'recognises that the Government's policy on airport expansion is consistent with its long term, balanced and sustainable aviation strategy as set out in the 2003 White Paper The Future of Air Transport, that its support for emissions trading represents the most effective way of tackling climate change concerns, that the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport consultation is a robust document that is the product of a lengthy period of comprehensive analysis, that the consultation process followed best practice as set out by the Cabinet Office, that the economic case for the expansion of Heathrow Airport, as set out in the consultation, accurately reflects the Government's current understanding of all the relevant costs and benefits, and that Ministers should base their forthcoming decisions on the future of Heathrow on all the evidence available, including the responses to the consultation', instead thereof.—(Secretary Ruth Kelly.)

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

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Jenny Willott, Dan Rogerson: 66.

Tellers for the Noes, Alison Seabeck, Mr Alan Campbell: 265.

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 Alan Campbell: 257.

Tellers for the Noes, Jenny Willott, Dan Rogerson: 193.

So the Question was agreed to.

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

Resolved, That this House recognises that the Government's policy on airport expansion is consistent with its long term, balanced and sustainable aviation strategy as set out in the 2003 White Paper The Future of Air Transport, that its support for emissions trading represents the most effective way of tackling climate change concerns, that the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport consultation is a robust document that is the product of a lengthy period of comprehensive analysis, that the consultation process followed best practice as set out by the Cabinet Office, that the economic case for the expansion of Heathrow Airport, as set out in the consultation, accurately reflects the Government's current understanding of all the relevant costs and benefits, and that Ministers should base their forthcoming decisions on the future of Heathrow on all the evidence available, including the responses to the consultation.

9    Immigration,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Immigration (Registration Card) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 5th March, be approved—(Mr Michael Foster):—It was agreed to.

10    Public Petitions,—Public Petitions from—

(1) those concerned about the proposed closure of Brampton Road Post office relating to Post Office closures (Kent);

(2) Kevin Staling, Lyn Barton and Nigel Offen and pupils and former pupils of Alderman Blaxill School, Colchester, together with parents, residents and others relating to Alderman Blaxhill School;

(3) Carshalton and Wallington residents relating to Post Office closures (Surrey); and

(4) people of the greater Reading area relating to planning and development (Reading)

were presented and read.

11    Public Petition,—A Public Petition from residents of Ilford North and others relating to Post Office closures (Ilford North) was presented.

12    Adjournment.

Subject: Biosimilar medicines (Dr Brian Iddon).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Michael Foster.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till nine 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:

Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1    Banks and Banking,—Draft Cash Ratio Deposits (Value Bands and Ratios) Order 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Yvette Cooper].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

2    Education,—Bede Sixth Form College, Billingham (Dissolution) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 812), dated 25th March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary John Denham].

3    Judiciary,—District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. (N.I.), 2008, No. 154), dated 31st March 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

4    Legal Services Commission,—Criminal Defence Service (Funding) (Amendment) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 957), dated 2nd April 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

5    National Health Service,—(1) National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Amendment Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 843);

(2) Trustees for the Hammersmith Hospitals National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 895); and

(3) Trustees for the St Mary's National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 894),

dated 26th March 2008 [by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Secretary Alan Johnson].

6    Rates,—Valuation Tribunal (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. (N.I.), 2008, No. 153), dated 31st March 2008 [by Statutory Instrument], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

Other Papers:

7    Culture, Media and Sport,—Draft Heritage Protection Bill [by Command] [Cm. 7349] [Secretary Andy Burnham].

8    Industrial Training,—Report and Accounts of CITB-ConstructionSkills for 2007, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 387] [Secretary John Denham].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1    Counter-Terrorism Bill (Programming Sub-Committee),—The Speaker has appointed Mr Crispin Blunt, Mr Alan Campbell, Mr Dominic Grieve, Andrew Gwynne, Mr David Heath, Mr Tony McNulty and Mr Jamie Reed members of the Programming Sub-Committee of the Counter-Terrorism Bill Committee.

2    Counter-Terrorism Bill:

(1) The Speaker has appointed Mr Edward O'Hara and Mr John Bercow Chairmen of the Counter-Terrorism Bill Committee; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated twenty-three Members to serve on the Committee: Mr Adrian Bailey, Mr Crispin Blunt, Tom Brake, Mr Russell Brown, Mr Alan Campbell, Mr Douglas Carswell, Mr Vernon Coaker, David T. C. Davies (Monmouth), Mr Dominic Grieve, Andrew Gwynne, Mr David Heath, Mr John Heppell, Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Mr Adam Holloway, Mr Elfyn Llwyd, Mr Tony McNulty, Patrick Mercer, Kali Mountford, Mr Jamie Reed, Martin Salter, Ms Dari Taylor, Mr Ben Wallace and Phil Wilson.

3    Local Transport Bill [Lords] (Programming Sub-Committee),—The Speaker has appointed Norman Baker, Stephen Hammond, Mr David Kidney, Ms Angela C Smith, Mr Dave Watts, Ms Rosie Winterton and Jeremy Wright members of the Programming Sub-Committee of the Local Transport Bill [Lords] Committee.

4    Local Transport Bill:

(1) The Speaker has appointed Mr David Taylor and Ann Winterton Chairmen of the Local Transport Bill Committee; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Norman Baker, Mr Clive Betts, Mr Douglas Carswell, Stephen Hammond, Mrs Siān C. James, Mr David Kidney, Mr Greg Knight, Mr Bob Laxton, Mr John Leech, Kerry McCarthy, Mr Lee Scott, Ms Angela C. Smith (Sheffield, Hillsborough), Ian Stewart, Graham Stringer, Mr Dave Watts, Ms Rosie Winterton and Jeremy Wright.

5    Draft Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Pilot) Regulations 2008:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations to the First Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr David Wilshire Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: John Battle, Mr Crispin Blunt, Ms Dawn Butler, Mr Richard Caborn, Mr Alan Campbell, Mr Philip Dunne, Damian Green, Mr John Gummer, Mr David Heathcoat-Amory, Meg Hillier, Mr George Howarth, Chris Huhne, Ian Lucas, Mr Ian McCartney, Dr Doug Naysmith, Mr Ken Purchase and Jenny Willott.

6    Draft Land Registration (Network Access) Rules 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mrs Ann Cryer, Dr Ian Gibson, Mr Sadiq Khan, Mr Ken Purchase and Geraldine Smith from the Third Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Rules) and nominated in substitution Nia Griffiths, Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Siobhain McDonagh, Mr Alan Meale and Jessica Morden.

    European Committees

7    The Speaker has appointed Mr Peter Atkinson Chairman of European Committee A, in respect of European Union Documents No. 5849/08 and Addendum 1 and No. 5862/08 and Addenda 1 to 3, on Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and Review of the Emissions Trading Scheme.

8    European Union Documents No. 14993/07, No. 14995/07, No. 14996/07, No. 14997/07, No. 14999/07 and No. 15001/07, relating to the Accession Process in the Western Balkans, European Union Documents No. 15616/07, Addenda 1 and 2, No. 15690/07 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to Interim Political Agreement on Co-operation between the European Union and its Member States and the Republic of Serbia, and Unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum—The Committee of Selection has nominated thirteen Members to serve on European Committee B, nominated in respect of the Documents: Nick Ainger, Tony Cunningham, Mr Edward Davey, Mr David Evennett, Mr Mark Francois, Mr Fabian Hamilton, Mr Greg Hands, Mr John Horam, Mr Lindsay Hoyle, Ann McKechin, Mr Alan Milburn, Mr Jim Murphy and Jo Swinson.

9    The European Standing Committee has withdrawn its recommendation [19th March 2008] that European Union Document No. 6427/08, relating to The European Police Office (EUROPOL) be further considered and the document no longer stands referred to European Committee B.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1    Business and Enterprise,—Creating a Higher Value-Added Economy: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Business and Enterprise Committee; to be printed [No. 168-iii] [Peter Luff].

2    Environmental Audit Committee,—Climate Change and local, regional and devolved government: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environmental Audit Committee; to be printed [No. 225-iii] [Mr Tim Yeo].

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

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

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

[Michael Connarty].

4    Foreign Affairs Committee,—Global Security: Japan and Korea: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Foreign Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 449-ii] [Mike Gapes].

5    Northern Ireland Affairs,—Policing and Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 333-v] [Sir Patrick Cormack].

6    Public Accounts,—Preparing for sporting success at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee of Public Accounts; to be printed [No. 477-i] [Mr Edward Leigh].

7    Statutory Instruments,—(1) Sixteenth Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, with a Memorandum; to be printed [No. 38-xvi]; and

(2) Government Response to the First Special Report from the Committee, Session 2006-07: Scrutinising Statutory Instruments: Departmental Returns, 2006: First Special Report from the Committee, with an Appendix; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 476] [David Maclean].

8    Transport,—The Blue Badge (Disabled Parking) Reform Strategy: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Transport Committee; to be printed [No. 475-i] [Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody].

9    Transport for London Bill [Lords],—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Opposed Bill Committee on the Transport for London Bill [Lords]; to be published [Christopher Fraser].

10    Work and Pensions,—The role of the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive in regulating workplace health and safety: Third Report of the Work and Pensions Committee, 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 16th January [No. 246-I and -II] [Mr Terry Rooney].

[W.H., No. 49]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

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

Subjects:

Treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (Nick Ainger).

Future of Wirral Metropolitan College's Carlett Park Campus (Ben Chapman).

Review of the Scotland Act 1998 (Pete Wishart).

Impact of the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005 on small pharmacies in Chelmsford (Mr Simon Burns).

Trial and imprisonment of Mr Michael Burk in Italy (Barbara Keeley).

A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned—(Siobhain McDonagh);

And the sitting having continued for two and a half hours after half-past Two o'clock, it was adjourned without Question put, till to-morrow.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker

CORRIGENDA

In the Votes and Proceedings for Thursday 27th March, in Appendix II, item 2(1) should have read:

In the Votes and Proceedings for Tuesday 1st April, in Appendix III, item 4 should have read:

(2) Annual Reports of Non-Departmental Public Bodies: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[Mr John Whittingdale].