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

1    Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mr Peter Atkinson reported from the Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Cash Ratio Deposits (Value Bands and Ratios) Order 2008.

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

2    Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee,—John Cummings reported from the Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee the Home Information Pack (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 572).

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

3    Management of Dementia in Care Homes,—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to regulate the prescription of anti-psychotic drugs for people with dementia in care homes; to require the introduction of protocols for the prescribing, monitoring and review of such medication; to make dementia training, including the use of anti-psychotics, mandatory for care home staff; to require care homes to obtain support from specified external services; and for connected purposes: And that David Taylor, Jeremy Wright, Mr Eric Illsley, Mr Gordon Marsden, Mrs Betty Williams, Mr Paul Truswell, Mr Gordon Prentice, John Bercow, Lynne Jones, Bob Russell, Mr David Drew and Colin Burgon do prepare and bring it in.

4    Management of Dementia in Care Homes Bill,—David Taylor accordingly presented a Bill to regulate the prescription of anti-psychotic drugs for people with dementia in care homes; to require the introduction of protocols for the prescribing, monitoring and review of such medication; to make dementia training, including the use of anti-psychotics, mandatory for care home staff; to require care homes to obtain support from specified external services; 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 109].

5    Opposition Day [12th 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.

An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 1, to leave out from the word 'House' to the end of the Question and add the words 'notes with horror the devastating impact of Cyclone Nargis upon the people of Burma; recognises the vast scale of humanitarian assistance needed urgently to prevent further loss of life; is appalled at the unacceptably slow pace at which the Burmese authorities have so far allowed in international expertise for the relief effort, and at their lack of capacity to distribute aid to the affected areas; calls upon the Burmese authorities to allow immediate and unfettered access for both the delivery of aid and for its distribution inside Burma; strongly welcomes the UK Government's initial £5 million pledge to the relief effort for emergency items; strongly supports the UK Government's exchanges with key international partners in order to bring about a concerted international effort for access for humanitarian assistance; in this regard, welcomes the visit to countries in the region by Ministers from the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; urges countries in the region to increase their efforts to persuade the Burmese authorities to allow in unfettered international assistance and to ramp up the delivery of aid; and strongly supports continued efforts of the United Nations to secure access and ensure aid is delivered to those in need.', instead thereof.—(Mr Secretary Alexander.)

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

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

Immigration,—That the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (House of Commons Paper No. 321), a copy of which was laid before this House on 6th February, be disapproved.

Ayes: 51.

Noes: 354.

So the Question was negatived.

Local Government,—That the draft Local Authorities (Alcohol Disorder Zones) Regulations 2008, which were laid before this House on 1st April, be approved.

Ayes: 240.

Noes: 158.

So the Question was agreed to.

7    Opposition Day [12th allotted day],—Burma,—The Question being again proposed, That the original words stand part of the Question;

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Crispin Blunt, Mr Richard Benyon: 181.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Frank Roy, Mr Sadiq Khan: 252.

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):—It was agreed to.

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

Resolved, That this House notes with horror the devastating impact of Cyclone Nargis upon the people of Burma; recognises the vast scale of humanitarian assistance needed urgently to prevent further loss of life; is appalled at the unacceptably slow pace at which the Burmese authorities have so far allowed in international expertise for the relief effort, and at their lack of capacity to distribute aid to the affected areas; calls upon the Burmese authorities to allow immediate and unfettered access for both the delivery of aid and for its distribution inside Burma; strongly welcomes the UK Government's initial £5 million pledge to the relief effort for emergency items; strongly supports the UK Government's exchanges with key international partners in order to bring about a concerted international effort for access for humanitarian assistance; in this regard, welcomes the visit to countries in the region by Ministers from the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; urges countries in the region to increase their efforts to persuade the Burmese authorities to allow in unfettered international assistance and to ramp up the delivery of aid; and strongly supports continued efforts of the United Nations to secure access and ensure aid is delivered to those in need.

Vehicle Excise Duty,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes with concern the increases in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) imposed in the Budget; notes that between 2006 and 2010 revenues from graduated VED will have more than doubled; observes that the majority of motorists who currently pay graduated VED will now pay more; deplores the Government's decision to abolish the exemption from higher graduated VED rates for cars that emit more than 186g of carbon dioxide per kilometre and were registered between March 2001 and March 2006, and the fact that this was not stated clearly at the time of the Budget; considers that these changes will hit those on low incomes hardest and be a further burden on hard-working families already struggling to cope with soaring living costs; further notes that, although graduated VED revenues will total £4.4 billion by 2010-11, carbon emissions from motoring are expected to reduce by less than one per cent. as a result of the new VED regime; believes that any increases in environmental taxes should be offset by tax reductions elsewhere; and calls upon the Government to abandon its planned increases in VED—(Mr Philip Hammond);

Mr Andrew Robathan rose in his place and claimed to move, That the Question be now put.

And the Question being put, That the Question be now put:—It was agreed to.

And the Question being accordingly put;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Brooks Newmark, Mr Richard Benyon: 125.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Wayne David, Mr Alan Campbell: 284.

So the Question was negatived.

8    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 names of Sir Stuart Bell and Ms Harriet Harman, relating to the Church of England Marriage Measure, and Yvette Cooper, relating to Banks and Banking—(Liz Blackman);

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Wayne David, Mr Alan Campbell: 279.

Tellers for the Noes, Angela Watkinson, Mr Simon Burns: 111.

9    Church of England Marriage Measure,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the Church of England Marriage Measure (House of Commons Paper No. 511), passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, be presented to Her Majesty for Her Royal Assent in the form in which the said Measure was laid before Parliament—(Sir Stuart Bell);

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Wayne David, Mr Alan Campbell: 266.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr James Gray, Mr Christopher Chope: 4.

10    Banks and Banking,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Cash Ratio Deposits (Value Bands and Ratios) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 2nd April, be approved—(Liz Blackman);

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Alan Campbell, Mr Wayne David: 258.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Christopher Chope, Mr James Gray: 6.

11    Public Petitions,—Public Petitions from—

(1) Wendy Daines, residents of Castle Point and others relating to Benfleet rail station facilities; and

(2) residents of Cornwall relating to facebook (Cornwall)

were presented and read.

12    Adjournment.

Subject: Access to specialist services for sufferers of muscular dystrophy (Nia Griffith).

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

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till twenty-two minutes past 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 Affirmative Resolution:

1    Immigration,—Draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary Jacqui Smith].

2    Prisons,—Draft Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 (Specified Organisations) Order 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Woodward].

3    Representation of the People,—(1) Draft Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008; and

(2) draft Service Voters' Registration Period (Northern Ireland) Order 2008

[by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Mr Secretary Woodward].

4    Social Security,—Draft Social Security (Students Responsible for Children or Young Persons) Amendment Regulations 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

5    Maintenance of Dependants,—Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders (Designation of Reciprocating Countries) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1202), dated 7th May 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

6    Merchant Shipping,—Merchant Shipping (Categorisation of Registries of Relevant British Possessions) (Amendment) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1243), dated 7th May 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Ruth Kelly].

7    Northern Ireland,—Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Modification) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1242), dated 7th May 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell].

Other Papers:

8    Financial Reporting to Parliament,—Departmental Report 2007-08 for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office [by Command] [Cm. 7398] [Secretary David Miliband].

9    Legislative Programme,—Paper, entitled Preparing Britain for the future: The Government's Draft Legislative Programme for 2008-09 [by Command] [Cm. 7372] [Ms Harriet Harman].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1    Draft Nursing and Midwifery (Amendment) Order 2008:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order 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 Ben Bradshaw, Ms Dawn Butler, Rosie Cooper, Sandra Gidley, Ms Diana R. Johnson, Daniel Kawczynski, Robert Key, Mr Bob Laxton, Mr Peter Lilley, Chris McCafferty, Anne Milton, Greg Mulholland, Gwyn Prosser, Mr Nick Raynsford, Joan Ryan, Ms Gisela Stuart and Jeremy Wright.

2    Draft Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2008:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations to the Second Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr Greg Pope Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Mr Colin Breed, Mr Jeremy Browne, Ms Karen Buck, Richard Burden, Tony Cunningham, Mr Wayne David, James Duddridge, Dr Ian Gibson, Mr John Grogan, Kate Hoey, Mr Andrew Love, Anne Main, Mr Humfrey Malins, Mr Michael Mates, Mr Mike O'Brien, Mr Marsha Singh and Mr Nigel Waterson.

3    Draft Cash Ratio Deposits (Value Bands and Ratios) Order 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Graham Allen and Chris McCafferty from the Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Order) and nominated in substitution Chris Mole and Mr Anthony Wright.

4    Home Information Pack (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 572),—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Jim Devine and Michael Jabez Foster from the Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the Regulations) and nominated in substitution Keith Hill and Ian Stewart.

5    Draft Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Mike Hall, Sir Gerald Kaufman and Mr Nick Raynsford from the Sixth Delegated Legislation Committtee (nominated in respect of the draft Order) and nominated in substitution Mr Graham Allen, Fiona Mactaggart and Sir Peter Soulsby.

European Committees

6    European Union Document No. 8403/08 and Addenda 1 to 5, relating to The EU—a Global Partner for Development—Speeding up progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, has been referred to European Committee B.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1     Children, Schools and Families,—The Work of Ofsted: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Children, Schools and Families Committee, with Memoranda; to be printed [No. 188-ii] [Mr Barry Sheerman].

2    Culture, Media and Sport,—(1) Harmful content on the Internet and in video games: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee; to be printed [No. 353-vii]; and

(2) London 2012 Games: Letter laid before the Committee; to be published

[Mr John Whittingdale].

3    Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Joint Committee on the Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill; to be printed [No. 551-ii] [Michael Jabez Foster].

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

(2) The Role of National Parliaments under the Lisbon Treaty: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 563-i];

(3) Minutes of the Public Deliberations of the Committee; to be printed [No. 361- x]; and
  (4) Ministerial Correspondence: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[Michael Connarty].

5    Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills,—After Leitch: Implementing Skills and Training Policies:

(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the After Leitch: Implementing Skills and Training Policies Sub-Committee of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee; to be printed [No. 505-i]; and

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

[Mr Phil Willis].

6     Joint Committees (Choice of Chairman),—Joan Walley reported from the Committee appointed to join with a Committee of the Lords as the Joint Committee on the Draft Marine Bill, that Lord Greenway had been chosen Chairman of the Joint Committee.

7    Public Accounts,—Protecting consumers? Removing retail price controls: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee of Public Accounts; to be printed [No. 571-i] [Mr Edward Leigh].

8    Scottish Affairs,—Employment and skills for the defence industry in Scotland: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Scottish Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 305-vi] [Mr Mohammad Sarwar].

9    Standards and Privileges,—Conduct of Mr George Osborne: Tenth Report from the Committee on Standards and Privileges, with an Appendix; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 560] [Sir George Young].

10    Statutory Instruments,—Nineteenth Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments; to be printed [No. 38-xix] [David Maclean].

11    Transport,—(1) The Future of BAA: Government Response to the Fourth Report from the Committee, Session 2007-08: Third Special Report from the Transport Committee; to be printed [No. 569]; and

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

[Mr Graham Stringer].

12    Treasury,—(1) Counting the Population: Eleventh Report from the Treasury Committee, with Minutes of Evidence and Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 183];

(2) Child Trust Funds follow-up: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Sub-Committee of the Committee, with Memoranda; to be printed [No. 537-i]; and

(3) Budget Measures and Low-Income Households: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[John McFall].

[W.H., No. 61]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

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

Subjects:

60th anniversary of the Commonwealth Development Corporation (Mr Tom Clarke).

Immigration rules relating to spouses (Mr Roger Godsiff).

Future of Royal Mail and the Post Office (Mr Alan Reid).

Government funding for the proposed unitary authority for Shropshire (Daniel Kawczynski).

Siting of Stafford Post Office (Mr David Kidney).

A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned—(Ms Diana R. Johnson);

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