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

1    Disqualification of a Member,—The Speaker laid upon the Table a notification, That Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer had this day appointed Mr David Marshall, Member for Glasgow East, to the office of Steward or Bailiff of Her Majesty's Manor of Northstead in the County of York.

2    Liaison,—Mr Alan Williams reported, pursuant to Standing Order No. 145 (Liaison Committee), That the Committee had directed him to report the following recommendation for the allocation of time for the consideration of Estimates on an allotted day (being the third allotted day in the present Session of Parliament);

That a day not later than 5th August be allotted for the consideration of the following Estimates for the financial year 2008-09:

Department for Transport, in so far as it relates to ticketing and concessionary travel on public transport.

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, in so far as it relates to Science Budget allocations.

Report to lie upon the Table.

3    First Delegated Legislation Committee,—Robert Key reported from the First Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2008.

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

4    Second Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mr Edward O'Hara reported from the Second Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Cancellation of Contracts Made in a Consumer's Home or Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008.

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

5    Third Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mrs Janet Dean reported from the Third Delegated Legislation Committee the draft National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Social Welfare) Order 2008.

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

6    European Committee B,—John Bercow reported from European Committee B the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of the unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum from HM Treasury dated 2nd June 2008 relating to the Preliminary Draft Budget of the European Communities for the year 2009; and supports the Government's efforts to maintain budget discipline in relation to the budget for the European Communities.

Resolution to lie upon the Table.

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

7    Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill,—Ordered, That the Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill be read a second time on Friday 17th October.

8    Human Rights Act 1998 (Meaning of Public Function) Bill,—Ordered, That the Human Rights Act 1998 (Meaning of Public Function) Bill be read a second time on Friday 17th October.

9    New Member,—John Michael Howell, Esquire, Member for Henley, was sworn.

10    Opposition Day [16th 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.

Energy security,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House acknowledges that the security of the UK's energy supply has become of increasing importance over the last five years; understands that with over eight GW of coal and a further seven GW of nuclear generating capacity coming offline in the next decade the UK faces a potentially serious energy gap by 2016; regrets that with only 2 per cent. of the UK's energy needs coming from renewable sources, the UK is one of the worst performers in Europe; notes that the Government's own Renewables Advisory Board has established that the UK is set to miss its EU renewables target for 2020 even with significant policy changes; further notes that, as an island nation, the UK has major potential as a source of wave and tidal energy; deplores the fact that the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund has not delivered monies to a single project since its creation in 2005; regrets that the Government's latest Energy Bill contains insufficient provisions for feed-in tariffs for microgeneration, the fast roll-out of smart meters or any serious help for the fuel poor; and urgently presses the Government to act now to secure the UK's energy supplies for the future—(Mr Alan Duncan);

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 that the Government is addressing the recent sharp increases in fossil fuel prices, which reflect an imbalance between supply and demand in global markets, through international engagement; recognises that the UK has the most competitive energy markets among the G7 nations, as recognised by independent analysts; acknowledges the Government's success in establishing a market framework which encourages sharp increases in gas import and storage capacity; further acknowledges the Government's success in establishing a clear framework for investment in new nuclear generation capacity through the Nuclear White Paper, and in setting out a blueprint for a historic expansion of renewable generation through the Renewable Energy Strategy consultation; recognises the Government's work in promoting energy efficiency as an integral part of its strategy; commends the Government's efforts to counter fuel poverty through the Winter Fuel Payment and through securing major financial commitments from energy supply companies; notes the Government's support for microgeneration; recognises that the Energy, Climate Change and Planning Bills will provide a legislative framework that is fit for purpose in changing market conditions and that supports the Government's policy objectives; believes that the Opposition's failure to show clear leadership on energy could put at risk Great Britain's energy security; condemns their failure to support the Government's Renewables Obligation; and deplores their opposition to the Planning Bill, which will provide greater certainty for major infrastructure building and help secure Great Britain's future energy independence', instead thereof.—(Mr Secretary Hutton.)

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

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;

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Nick Hurd, Mr Richard Benyon: 183.

Tellers for the Noes, Tony Cunningham, Mr Dave Watts: 279.

Resolved, That this House acknowledges that the Government is addressing the recent sharp increases in fossil fuel prices, which reflect an imbalance between supply and demand in global markets, through international engagement; recognises that the UK has the most competitive energy markets among the G7 nations, as recognised by independent analysts; acknowledges the Government's success in establishing a market framework which encourages sharp increases in gas import and storage capacity; further acknowledges the Government's success in establishing a clear framework for investment in new nuclear generation capacity through the Nuclear White Paper, and in setting out a blueprint for a historic expansion of renewable generation through the Renewable Energy Strategy consultation; recognises the Government's work in promoting energy efficiency as an integral part of its strategy; commends the Government's efforts to counter fuel poverty through the Winter Fuel Payment and through securing major financial commitments from energy supply companies; notes the Government's support for microgeneration; recognises that the Energy, Climate Change and Planning Bills will provide a legislative framework that is fit for purpose in changing market conditions and that supports the Government's policy objectives; believes that the Opposition's failure to show clear leadership on energy could put at risk Great Britain's energy security; condemns their failure to support the Government's Renewables Obligation; and deplores their opposition to the Planning Bill, which will provide greater certainty for major infrastructure building and help secure Great Britain's future energy independence.

Food security,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes with concern current food shortages which are believed to have pushed 100 million people into hunger worldwide; recognises that rising food prices are putting household budgets under increasing strain; believes that with rising global demand and pressure on supply it is both a practical and moral imperative that Great Britain retains the capacity to produce a significant proportion of its own food; notes that UK self-sufficiency in food has declined considerably over the last decade; regrets the Government's failure to accept that domestic production is a necessary condition for food security; and urges the Government to relieve pressure on world markets and ensure the security of domestic food supply by enabling British farmers to optimise food production while preserving the natural environment—(Mr James Paice);

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 'notes with concern current food shortages which are believed to have pushed 100 million people into hunger worldwide; acknowledges the steps taken by the Prime Minister to encourage co-ordinated international action to address global food security; welcomes the additional UK contribution to the World Food Programme; recognises that rising food prices as a result of global pressures are affecting household food budgets; believes that with rising global demand Great Britain needs a strong farming industry able to produce a significant proportion of UK food; notes that UK self sufficiency stands at 74 per cent. for food which can be grown in the UK, which is higher than in the early 1950s; and commends the Government's role in helping to develop a domestic farming sector that produces what consumers want in a way that preserves natural resources and enhances the valuable environmental benefits that it provides to society', instead thereof.—(Secretary Hilary Benn.)

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

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;

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr John Baron, Mr Nick Hurd: 185.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Bob Blizzard, Mr Sadiq Khan: 278.

Resolved, That this House notes with concern current food shortages which are believed to have pushed 100 million people into hunger worldwide; acknowledges the steps taken by the Prime Minister to encourage co-ordinated international action to address global food security; welcomes the additional UK contribution to the World Food Programme; recognises that rising food prices as a result of global pressures are affecting household food budgets; believes that with rising global demand Great Britain needs a strong farming industry able to produce a significant proportion of UK food; notes that UK self sufficiency stands at 74 per cent. for food which can be grown in the UK, which is higher than in the early 1950s; and commends the Government's role in helping to develop a domestic farming sector that produces what consumers want in a way that preserves natural resources and enhances the valuable environmental benefits that it provides to society.

11    Representation of the People,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008, which were laid before this House on 14th May, be approved—(Mr Dave Watts):—It was agreed to.

12    Representation of the People,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Service Voters' Registration Period (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 14th May, be approved—(Mr Dave Watts):—It was agreed to.

13    Tribunals and Inquiries,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Appeals from the Upper Tribunal to the Court of Appeal Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 4th June, be approved—(Mr Dave Watts):—It was agreed to.

14    Tribunals and Inquiries,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal (Composition of Tribunal) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 4th June, be approved—(Mr Dave Watts):—It was agreed to.

15    Tribunals and Inquiries,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 4th June, be approved—(Mr Dave Watts):—It was agreed to.

16    Healthcare and Associated Professions,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees), That the draft Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 4th June, be approved—(Mr Dave Watts):—It was agreed to.

17    Business of the House,—Ordered, That, notwithstanding the practice of the House as to the intervals between stages of Bills brought in upon Ways and Means Resolutions, more than one stage of the Finance Bill may be taken at any sitting of the House.—(Mr Dave Watts.)

18    Adjournment.

Subject: Re-doubling of the Swindon to Kemble railway line (Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Dave Watts.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till fourteen minutes to Eleven 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 27th June 2008 pursuant to Standing Order No. 159 (Presentation of statutory instruments):

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1    Companies,—Companies Act 1985 (Annual Return) and Companies (Principal Business Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1659), dated 24th June 2008, with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [Mr Secretary Hutton].

2    Defence,—Armed Forces (Service Inquiries) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1651), dated 25th June 2008, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Secretary Des Browne].

3    Employment and Training,—Industrial Training Levy (Reasonable Steps) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1639), dated 21st June 2008, with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [Secretary John Denham].

Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 30th June 2008:

Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution:

4    Terms and Conditions of Employment,—Draft Maternity and Parental Leave etc. and the Paternity and Adoption leave (Amendment) Regulations 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

5    Education,—Student Fees (Qualifying Courses and Persons) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1640), dated 23rd June 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary John Denham].

6    Social Security,—Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Amendment (No. 3) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1649), dated 23rd June 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell].

Other Papers:

7    Culture, Media and Sport,—Government Response to the Sixth Report from the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Session 2007-08, on London 2012 Games: the next lap [by Command] [Cm. 7437] [Tessa Jowell].

8    Defence,—Ministry of Defence Minute, dated 30th June 2008, concerning the updating of a contingent liability (Departmental minute dated 22nd May 2006), for the underwriting of funding for the Armed Forces memorial [by Command] [Secretary Des Browne].

9    Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall,—Report and Financial Statements of the Duchy of Cornwall for 2007-08 [by Act] [Angela Eagle].

10    Financial Services and Markets,—Report of the Financial Services Authority for 2007-08 [by Act] [Kitty Ussher].

11    Foreign and Commonwealth Office,—Paper, entitled Iran's Nuclear Programme: A Collection of Documents (Volume 2) [by Command] [Cm. 7421] [Secretary David Miliband].

12    Government Resources and Accounts,—(1) Accounts of the Oil & Pipelines Agency for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 883] [Clerk of the House];

(2) Report and Accounts of FCO Services for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 610] [Secretary David Miliband];

(3) Report and Resource Accounts of the National School of Government for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 616] [Jane Kennedy]; and

(4) Resource Accounts of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 614] [Jane Kennedy].

13    Health,—Paper, entitled High Quality Care for All: NHS Next Stage Review Final Report [by Command] [Cm. 7432] [Secretary Alan Johnson].

14    National Audit,—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Programmes to reduce household energy consumption [by Act]; to be printed [No. 787] [Clerk of the House].

15    National Health Service,—Reports and Accounts of—

(1) NHS Business Services Authority for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 714];

(2) Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust for 2007-08 [by Act]; and

(3) Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 2007-08 [by Act]

[Secretary Alan Johnson].

16    National Health Service Reform and Healthcare Professions,—Report and Accounts of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 688] [Secretary Alan Johnson].

17    Police (Northern Ireland),—Accounts of the Police Service Northern Ireland for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 882] [Clerk of the House].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1    Draft Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged John Battle, Clive Efford and Dr Tony Wright from the First Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations) and nominated in substitution Mr Adrian Bailey, Ian Lucas and Mr Ian McCartney.

2    Draft Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer's Home or Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Margaret Moran from the Second Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations) and nominated in substitution Mr Doug Henderson.

3    Draft National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Social Welfare) Order 2008,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Ann Clwyd, Mr Don Touhig and Mark Williams from the Third Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Order) and nominated in substitution Ann Coffey, Mr John Heppell and Mr Roger Williams.

    European Committees

4    Unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 2nd June 2007, relating to the Preliminary Draft Budget of the European Communities 2009,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Stephen Byers, Michael Jabez Foster and Mr Lindsay Hoyle from European Committee B (nominated in respect of the Memorandum) and nominated in substitution Ben Chapman, Mr Charles Clarke and David Wright.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

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

2    Communities and Local Government,—(1) New Towns—Follow-up: Ninth Report from the Communities and Local Government Committee, with a Memorandum; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report, and Memoranda reported and ordered to be published on 19th November and 2nd June [No. 889]; and

(2) Community Cohesion and Migration: Tenth Report from the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report, and Memoranda reported and ordered to be published on 4th and 25th February, 17th March, 1st April and 2nd June [No. 369]

[Dr Phyllis Starkey].

3    Public Accounts,—(1) Reducing the risk of violent crime: Forty-fifth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 546];

(2) The procurement of the National Roads Telecommunications Services: Forty-sixth Report from the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 558];

(3) Meeting needs? The offender learning and skills service: Forty-seventh Report from the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 584];

(4) Preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Progress report: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 890-i]; and

(5) Protecting consumers? Removing retail price controls: Minutes of evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 571-ii]

[Mr Edward Leigh].