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

1    Counter-Terrorism Bill,—John Bercow reported from the Counter-Terrorism Bill Committee:

(1) That it had come to the following Resolution: That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication; and

(2) certain Memoranda.

Memoranda to lie upon the Table and be published.

2    Local Transport Bill [Lords],—David Taylor reported from the Local Transport Bill [Lords] Committee:

(1) That it had come to the following Resolution: That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication; and

(2) certain Memoranda.

Memoranda to lie upon the Table and be published.

3    European Committee A,—Mr Peter Atkinson reported from European Committee A nominated in respect of European Documents relating to the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2020 and Review of the Emissions Trading Scheme the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of European Union Documents No. 5849/08 and Addendum 1, Draft Decision on the effort of Member States to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Community's greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments up to 2020, and No. 5862/08 and Addenda 1 to 3, Draft Directive amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to improve and extend the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system in the Community; and supports the Government's aim of contributing positively towards the negotiation of both instruments to maintain the ambition of the Commission's legislative package and the strong EU leadership in tackling climate change and putting the EU on track to become a low-carbon economy.

Resolution to lie upon the Table.

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

4    Road Traffic (Safety),—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision about the content of driving tests; to create offences relating to dangerous driving; and for connected purposes: And that James Brokenshire, Mike Penning, Mr John Leech, Mr Stewart Jackson, Mr Lee Scott and David T. C. Davies do prepare and bring it in.

5    Road Traffic (Safety) Bill,—James Brokenshire accordingly presented a Bill to make provision about the content of driving tests; to create offences relating to dangerous driving; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 20th June and to be printed [Bill 98].

6    Pensions Bill,—The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Pensions Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee.

A Clause (NC17) (Crown employment)—(Mr Mike O'Brien)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.

Another Clause (NC18) (Armed forces)—(Mr Mike O'Brien)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.

Another Clause (NC19) (Police)—(Mr Mike O'Brien)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.

Another Clause (NC1) (Start date of personal accounts)—(Mr Nigel Waterson)—brought up and read the first time.

Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Clause (NC2) (Means testing)—(Mr Nigel Waterson)—brought up and read the first time.

Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Clause (NC6) (Existing pension provision)—(Mr Nigel Waterson)—brought up and read the first time.

Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Clause (NC7) (Earnings link)—(Mr Nigel Waterson)—brought up and read the first time.

Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Clause (NC12) (Investment principles)—(Mr Nigel Waterson)—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 [7th January].

Tellers for the Ayes, James Duddridge, Jeremy Wright: 173.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Michael Foster, Alison Seabeck: 290.

Another Clause (NC16) (Earnings link)—(Jim Cousins)—brought up and read the first time.

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

Tellers for the Ayes, Kelvin Hopkins, David Taylor: 195.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Michael Foster, Alison Seabeck: 269.

The Deputy Speaker then put the Question on the Amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown.

Amendments (Nos. 34 to 36) made to the Bill.

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

Secretary James Purnell, 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.

And the Question being proposed;

And it being Ten o'clock, the Speaker put the Question:—It was agreed to.

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

7    Immigration,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Pilot) Regulations 2008, which were laid before this House on 11th March, be approved—(Alison Seabeck);

And the 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).

8    Adjournment (May),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 25 (Periodic adjournments), That this House, at its rising on Thursday 1st May 2008, do adjourn till Tuesday 6th May 2008—(Alison Seabeck):—It was agreed to.

9    Adjournment (Whitsun),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 25 (Periodic adjournments), That this House, at its rising on Thursday 22nd May 2008, do adjourn till Monday 2nd June 2008—(Alison Seabeck):—It was agreed to.

10    Public Petitions,— Public Petitions from

(1) Johnno Hills and British citizens relating to policing in Britain; and

(2) those concerned about the proposed closures of the Sub Post Offices in the East Londonderry constituency relating to Post Office closures (East Londonderry)

were presented and read.

11    Adjournment.

Subject: Inspection of children's homes (Ann Coffey).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Liz Blackman.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till twenty-seven minutes past Ten o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.

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:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1    Constitutional Law,—Draft Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) Order 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Murphy].

2    Consumer Protection,—Draft Compensation (Claims Management Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

3    Value Added Tax,—Value Added Tax (Buildings and Land) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1146), dated 21st April 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Jane Kennedy].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

4    Agriculture,—Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1139), dated 18th April 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Hilary Benn].

5    Customs,—Export Control (Burma) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1098), dated 21st April 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

6    Tribunals and Inquiries,—Membership of the Tribunal Procedure Committee Transitional Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1149), dated 18th April 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

Other Paper:

7    Broadcasting,—Report and Financial Statements of Channel Four Television Corporation for 2007 [by Act] [Secretary Andy Burnham].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1    Administration,—Record of the Administration Committee's discussions at its meeting on 22nd April; to be published [Mr Frank Doran].

2    Business and Enterprise and Culture, Media and Sport,—Ofcom Annual Plan 2008-09: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Culture, Media and Sport and Trade and Industry Committees; to be printed [No. 494-i] [Mr Peter Luff].

3    Communities and Local Government,—Community Cohesion and Migration: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Communities and Local Government Committee; to be printed [No. 369-iv] [Dr Phyllis Starkey].

4    Defence,—Recruitment and retention in the Armed Forces:

(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Defence Committee; to be printed [No. 424-iii]; and

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

[Mr James Arbuthnot].

5    Home Affairs,—Policing in the 21st Century: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Home Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 364-iii] [Keith Vaz].

6    Human Rights,—(1) Legislative Scrutiny: 1) Employment Bill; 2) Housing and Regeneration Bill; 3) Other Bills: Seventeenth 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 17th December, 9th and 21st January, 19th February and 3rd March [No. 501];

(2) Legislative Scrutiny: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published; and

(3) Human Rights Judgements: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[Mr Andrew Dismore].

7    Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills,—Investigating the oceans: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Investigating the oceans Sub-Committee of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee; to be printed [No. 469-i] [Mr Phil Willis].

8    International Development,—The World Food Programme and global food security:

(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the International Development Committee; to be printed [No. 493-i]; and

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

[Malcolm Bruce].

9    Justice,—Devolution: A Decade On: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Justice Committee; to be printed [No. 75-vii] [Mr Alan Beith].

10    Treasury,—(1) Climate Change and the Stern Review: the Implications for Treasury Policy: Governments response to the Fourth Report from the Committee, Session 2007-08: Eighth Special Report from the Treasury Committee; to be printed [No. 495]; and

(2) Inherited Estates:

(i) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; and

(ii) Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be printed [No. 496-i]

[John McFall].

[W.H., No. 51]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

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

Subjects:

Metals recycling industry (Dr Alan Whitehead).

Local consultation on large scale housing developments (Mr Philip Hollobone).

Piece Hall, Halifax (Mrs Linda Riordan).

Government subsidies for wind turbines (Mr Keith Simpson).

Plymouth growth plans (Linda Gilroy).

Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Mr Alan Campbell.)

And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker

CORRIGENDA

Northern Bank Bill.

Bill committed.