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The House met at half-past Ten o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1 London Local Authorities (Shopping Bags) Bill,—The Order of the day being read for the Second Reading of the London Local Authorities (Shopping Bags) Bill;
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Thursday 10th July.
2 Manchester City Council Bill [Lords],—The Order of the day being read for resuming the adjourned Debate on the Question proposed on 12th June, That the Manchester City Council Bill [Lords] be now read a second time;
Ordered, That the Debate be resumed Thursday 10th July.
3 Bournemouth Borough Council Bill [Lords],—The Order of the day being read for the Second Reading of the Bournemouth Borough Council Bill [Lords];
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Thursday 10th July.
4 Canterbury City Council Bill,—The Order of the day being read for the Second Reading of the Canterbury City Council Bill;
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Thursday 10th July.
5 Leeds City Council Bill,—The Order of the day being read for the Second Reading of the Leeds City Council Bill;
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Thursday 10th July.
6 Nottingham City Council Bill,—The Order of the day being read for the Second Reading of the Nottingham City Council Bill;
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Thursday 10th July.
7 Reading Borough Council Bill,—The Order of the day being read for the Second Reading of the Reading Borough Council Bill;
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Thursday 10th July.
8 Contingencies Fund, 2007-08,—Ordered, That there be laid before this House Accounts of the Contingencies Fund, 2007-08, showing—
(2) a cashflow statement; and
(3) notes to the account; together with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon.—(Alison Seabeck.)
9 Children and Young Persons Bill [Lords],—Mr Greg Pope reported from the Children and Young Persons Bill [Lords] Committee, That it had gone through the Bill and made Amendments thereunto.
Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee, to be considered on Monday 7th July; and to be printed [Bill 133].
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
10 Climate Change Bill [Lords],—Frank Cook reported a Memorandum from the Climate Change Bill [Lords] Committee.
Memorandum to lie upon the Table and to be published.
11 Thirteenth Delegated Legislation Committee,—John Bercow reported from the Thirteenth Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Taxes on Income and Capital) (Saudi Arabia) Order 2008 and the draft International Tax Enforcement (Bermuda) Order 2008.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
12 Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill,—Secretary Jack Straw, supported by the Prime Minister, Secretary Jacqui Smith, Secretary Des Browne, Mr Secretary Woodward, the Solicitor General and Maria Eagle, presented a Bill to make provision for the making of orders for securing the anonymity of witnesses in criminal proceedings: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Monday 7th July and to be printed [Bill 134].
Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill be printed [Bill 134-EN].
13 Zimbabwe (Topical Debate),—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House has considered the matter of Zimbabwe—(Secretary David Miliband);
And it being one and half hours after the commencement of proceedings, the Motion lapsed without Question put, pursuant to Temporary Standing Order (Topical debates).
14 Members' Salaries (Expression of Opinion) (No. 1),—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes Sir John Baker's Review of Parliamentary Pay and Allowances (Cm. 7416), and is of the opinion that the recommendations in the Review for the annual salary of a Member of this House to be increased by reference to a linkage to the Public Sector Average Earnings Index combined with regular reviews of the salary and the link should be implemented, such that—
(1) from 1st April 2008 and from 1st April of each subsequent year a Member's salary should be increased by the percentage increase in the 3 month average Public Sector Average Earnings Index for January of that year relative to the figure for January of the previous year;
(2) the SSRB should conduct a review of Members' salaries in the first year of each new Parliament unless such a review has taken place within the preceding two years;
(3) at such a review the SSRB should consider either or both of:
(a) an adjustment to the salary
(b) a different formula from that specified in paragraph (1) above
to ensure that the level of salary remains adequate for recruitment and retention, appropriate for the responsibilities and reasonable in relation to total reward for jobs of similar weight in the public sector, to take effect from the first 1st April following the first meeting of the new Parliament;
(4) each year the SSRB chair should notify the Speaker of the change in salary (expressed as a percentage) and, on such notification to the Speaker, that change should have effect, subject to any further notification given following a review under paragraph (2);
(5) the Speaker should lay before the House:
(a) any notification received from the SSRB chair under paragraph (4) above; and
(b) any report from the SSRB following a review under paragraph (2) above;
(6) an additional salary payable to a Member under Resolutions of this House in respect of service as a chairman of select or general committees should be changed by the same percentage and from the same time as the salary of a Member—(Ms Harriet Harman);
An Amendment ((a)) was proposed to the Question, in line 11, after the word 'year', to insert the words 'provided that, without prejudice to the calculations based on the agreed formula, from 1st April 2008 the annual salary is increased by no more than 2.3 per cent. and that the balance of any increase due at 1st April 2008 should be payable from 1st April 2009 in addition to any increase payable at that date.'.—(Mr Don Touhig.)
And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made;
Tellers for the Ayes, Jim Sheridan, Mr Robert Syms: 155.
Tellers for the Noes, Mr Alan Campbell, Tony Cunningham: 196.
So the Question was negatived.
It being more than one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings, the Speaker, pursuant to Order [1st July], put the remaining Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motions relating to Members' salaries.
And the Main Question being put;
Tellers for the Ayes, Richard Younger-Ross, Mr Paul Keetch: 141.
Tellers for the Noes, Mr Alan Campbell, Tony Cunningham: 216.
So the Question was negatived.
15 Members' Salaries (Expression of Opinion) (No. 2),—Resolved, That this House notes Sir John Baker's Review of Parliamentary Pay and Allowances (Cm. 7416), and is of the opinion that the policy set out in the Written Ministerial Statement by the Leader of the House of 17th June Official Report col 46WS should be implemented, such that—
(1) the salary of a Member of this House should be increased from 1st April 2008, and from 1st April of each subsequent year, by an uprating formula which increases the salary by a percentage equal to the median of relevant increases for the following public sector groups:
senior military, holders of judicial office, very senior NHS managers, doctors and dentists, the Prison Service, NHS staff, school teachers, the Armed Forces, police officers, Local Government; non-Senior Civil Service staff in each of the Department for Work and Pensions, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office; and the Senior Civil Service;
(2) the SSRB should conduct a review of Members' salaries in the first year of each new Parliament unless such a review has taken place within the preceding two years;
(3) at such a review the SSRB should consider either or both of:
(a) an adjustment to the salary, consistent with public sector pay policy, to reflect an assessment of the appropriate salary at that time relative to jobs of similar weight elsewhere in the public sector;
(b) as regards the public sector groups listed above, such amendments to the list as appear to it to be necessary to reflect changes in the pay setting arrangements for those groups;
to take effect from the first 1st April following the first meeting of the new Parliament;
(4) each year the SSRB chair should notify the Speaker of the change in salary (expressed as a percentage) and, on such notification to the Speaker, that change shall have effect, subject to any further notification given following a review under paragraph (2);
(5) the Speaker should lay before the House:
(a) any notification received from the SSRB chair under paragraph (4); and
(b) any report from the SSRB following a review under paragraph (2) above;
(6) an additional salary payable to a Member under Resolutions of this House in respect of service as a chairman of select or general committees shall be changed by the same percentage and from the same time as the salary of a Member.—(Ms Harriet Harman.)
16 Members' Salaries (Expression of Opinion) (No. 3),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That this House notes Sir John Baker's Review of Parliamentary Pay and Allowances (Cm. 7416), and is of the opinion that the recommendation in paragraph 51 of the Review for increases over three years additional to those resulting from other uprating provisions should be implemented, such that the annual salary of a Member of this House should be increased on each of 1st April 2008, 1st April 2009 and 1st April 2010 by a sum of £650 in addition to (and after) any other change taking effect from that date by virtue of any other resolution of this House—(Ms Harriet Harman);
Tellers for the Ayes, Peter Bottomley, Mr Christopher Chope: 123.
Tellers for the Noes, Mr Alan Campbell, Tony Cunningham: 224.
So the Question was negatived.
17 Members' Salaries (No. 2) (Money),—Her Majesty's Recommendation having been signified to the proposed Motion relating to Members' Salaries (No. 2) (Money);
Resolved, That the following provision shall be made with respect to the salaries of Members of this House—
(1) from 1st April 2008 and from 1st April of each subsequent year a Member's salary shall be increased by a percentage equal to the median of the relevant increases for the public sector groups listed in paragraph (2);
(2) the public sector groups are:
(a) senior military, holders of judicial office, very senior NHS managers, doctors and dentists, the Prison Service, NHS staff, school teachers, the Armed Forces, police officers and Local Government ("List A");
(b) non-Senior Civil Service staff in each of the Department for Work and Pensions, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office ("List B");
(c) Senior Civil Service ("List C");
(3) the posts covered by a group in List A (except police officers and Local Government) and the Senior Civil Service are those posts within the group which are covered (from time to time) by a pay review body supported by the Office of Manpower Economics;
(4) the reference to police officers is to those officers covered (from time to time) by the Police Negotiating Board and the reference to Local Government is to those posts covered (from time to time) by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services;
(5) in the case of List A, the relevant increase for a group is determined as follows:
(a) determine the last set of annual percentage pay scale increases finalised and given effect to prior to 31st December of the preceding year in relation to individuals within the group;
(b) of the increases determined under paragraph (a), determine the increase that was applicable to the largest number of individuals (for this purpose, taking increases of the same percentage together as if they were one increase);
and the increase determined under paragraph (b) is the relevant increase;
(6) in the case of List B, the relevant increase for a group is determined as follows:
(a) determine the last set of annual percentage pay scale increases finalised and given effect to prior to 31st December of the preceding year in relation to staff within the group;
(b) determine the average of the increases determined under paragraph (a);
and the average determined under paragraph (b) is the relevant increase;
(7) in the case of List C, the relevant increase is the last annual percentage increase in the basic settlement (excluding recyclables) finalised and given effect to prior to 31st December of the preceding year;
(8) the SSRB shall determine each relevant increase for the purposes of paragraph (1) except where the SSRB decides, in relation to a particular group, that it is not possible for it to make such a determination because of changes in pay setting arrangements for that group or other exceptional circumstances, in which case that group shall be ignored for the purposes of paragraph (1);
(9) the SSRB shall conduct a review of Members' salaries in the first year of each new Parliament unless such a review has taken place within the preceding two years;
(10) at such a review the SSRB should consider either or both of:
(a) an adjustment to the salary, consistent with public sector pay policy, to reflect an assessment of the appropriate salary at that time relative to jobs of similar weight elsewhere in the public sector;
(b) as regards the public sector groups listed in paragraph (2) above, such amendments to the list (including adding new groups or moving particular groups between Lists A, B and C) as appear to it to be necessary to reflect changes in the pay setting arrangements for those groups;
to take effect from the first 1st April following the first meeting of the new Parliament;
(11) each year the SSRB chair shall notify the Speaker of the change in salary (expressed as a percentage) and, on such notification to the Speaker, that change shall have effect, subject to any further notification given following a review under paragraph (9);
(12) the Speaker shall lay before the House:
(a) any notification received from the SSRB chair under paragraph (11); and
(b) any report from the SSRB following a review under paragraph (9) above;
(13) an additional salary payable to a Member under Resolutions of this House in respect of service as a chairman of select or general committees shall be changed by the same percentage and from the same time as the salary of a Member.—(Ms Harriet Harman.)
18 Members' Expenses,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House welcomes the Third Report from the Members Estimate Committee: Review of Members Allowances (House of Commons Paper No. 578); endorses in particular the recognition of the need for a robust system of scrutiny for parliamentary allowances and the accompanying emphasis in the Report on improved audit; and is of the opinion that—
(1) Recommendations 1-5 (audit and assurance), Recommendations 6 and 7 (scope of overnight expenses), Recommendations 9 and 10 (Communications Allowance), Recommendations 11 and 12 (travel), Recommendations 13 and 14 (overnight expenses), Recommendation 15 (resettlement), and Recommendations 16-18 (other SSRB recommendations) should be implemented, subject to decisions of the Members Estimate Committee with respect to their introduction and application;
(2) the principle of central funding of constituency office costs, as set out in Recommendation 8, should be approved and asks the Members Estimate Committee to prepare a detailed proposal accordingly;
(3) the timetable for implementation of the Recommendations set out in paragraph 257 of the Report be endorsed; and instructs the Members Estimate Committee to report from time to time on the implementation of this Resolution—(Nick Harvey);
And it being one and half hours after the commencement of proceedings, the Speaker, pursuant to Order [1st July], put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motions relating to Members' Expenses and Members' Home Addresses.
An Amendment ((d)) was proposed to the Question, in line 3, to leave from '578);' to the end of the Question and add the words 'recognises the need to strengthen the system of scrutiny and is of the opinion that a rigorous internal system of audit of the Additional Costs Allowance be introduced covering 25 per cent. of hon. Members each year, and every hon. Member each Parliament; and is of the opinion that—
(1) Recommendations 5 (staff contracts), 8 (constituency offices), 9 and 10 (communications allowance), 11 and 12 (travel), 14 (overnight expenses), 15 (resettlement), and 16, 17 and 18 (other SSRB recommendations) be approved; and
(2) that Recommendation 5 be implemented from 1st October 2008, that Recommendation 8 be implemented from 1st April 2010, that Recommendations 9 and 10 be implemented from 1st April 2009, that Recommendations 11 and 12 be implemented from 1st April 2009, that Recommendation 14 be implemented from 1st April 2009 and that Recommendation 15 be implemented at the end of the next Parliament.', instead thereof.—(Mr Don Touhig.)
And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made;
Tellers for the Ayes, Helen Jones, Anne Moffat: 172.
Tellers for the Noes, Nick Harvey, David Maclean: 144.
So the Question was agreed to.
Another Amendment ((f)) was proposed to the Question, in line 18, at the end to add the words—
'(4) any allowance for overnight costs arising from Parliamentary duties in London may not be used for accommodation expenses in respect of a residence designated by an hon. Member as his main residence for tax purposes.'.—(John Mann.)
And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made:—It was agreed to.
And the Main Question, as amended, being put:—It was agreed to.
Resolved,—That this House welcomes the Third Report from the Members Estimate Committee: Review of Members Allowances (House of Commons Paper 578); recognises the need to strengthen the system of scrutiny and is of the opinion that a rigorous internal system of audit of the Additional Costs Allowance be introduced covering 25 per cent. of hon. Members each year, and every hon. Member each Parliament; and is of the opinion that—
(1) Recommendations 5 (staff contracts), 8 (constituency offices), 9 and 10 (communications allowance), 11 and 12 (travel), 14 (overnight expenses), 15 (resettlement), and 16, 17 and 18 (other SSRB recommendations) be approved;
(2) Recommendation 5 be implemented from 1st October 2008, that Recommendation 8 be implemented from 1st April 2010, that Recommendations 9 and 10 be implemented from 1st April 2009, that Recommendations 11 and 12 be implemented from 1st April 2009, that Recommendation 14 be implemented from 1st April 2009 and that Recommendation 15 be implemented at the end of the next Parliament; and
(3) any allowance for overnight costs arising from Parliamentary duties in London may not be used for accommodation expenses in respect of a residence designated by an hon. Member as his main residence for tax purposes.
19 Members' Home Addresses,—Resolved, That this House asserts that the freedom of Members to speak on any matter without the fear or threat of interference or molestation is essential to the effective conduct of parliamentary proceedings; notes that this freedom has long been recognised to be an integral element of the protection afforded to Members enabling them to participate effectively in parliamentary business, and thus that Members must be able to speak on any matter in parliamentary proceedings without threat of interference or molestation; considers that this would be threatened by publication of Members' home addresses, patterns of travel or other information linked to addresses held by the House authorities revealing details that could threaten their security, and so would prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs; and urges Mr Speaker to take account of these considerations in the discharge of his responsibilities.—(Ms Harriet Harman.)
20 Business of the House,—Ordered, That, in respect of the Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill, notices of Amendments, new Clauses and new Schedules to be moved in Committee may be accepted by the Clerks at the Table before the Bill has been read a second time.—(Siobhain McDonagh.)
21 Adjournment.
Subject: Sixtieth anniversary of the NHS (Tony Lloyd).
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Siobhain McDonagh.)
And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till one minute to Six o'clock, adjourned till Monday 7th July.
[Adjourned at 5.59 p.m.
Michael J. Martin
Speaker
Mr Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Two o'clock on Monday next.
APPENDIX I
Papers presented or laid upon the Table:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
1 Companies,—Company Names Adjudicator Rules 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1738), dated 1st July 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hutton].
2 Land Registration,—(1) Adjudicator to Her Majesty's Land Registry (Practice and Procedure) (Amendment) Rules 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1731), dated 27th June 2008; and
(2) Network Access Appeal Rules 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1730), dated 30th June 2008
[by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].
3 National Health Service,—(1) National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) and (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1697), dated 26th June 2008; and
(2) Primary Ophthalmic Services Amendment, Transitional and Consequential Provisions Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1700), dated 28th June 2008
[by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Secretary Alan Johnson].
4 Road Traffic,—(1) Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1702), dated 30th June 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command]; and
(2) Vehicles Crime (Registration of Registration Plate Suppliers) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1715), dated 30th June 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command]
5 Sports Grounds and Sporting Events,—Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1749), dated 30th June 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Andy Burnham].
Other Papers:
6 Cereals Marketing,—Report and Accounts of the Home-Grown Cereals Authority for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 669] [Secretary Hilary Benn].
7 Church Commissioners,—Report and Accounts of the Church Commissioners for 2007 [by Measure] [Secretary Jack Straw].
8 Contingencies Fund,—Accounts of the Contingencies Fund for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [pursuant to Order this day]; to be printed [No. 879] [Jane Kennedy].
9 Financial Reporting to Parliament,—Departmental Report 2007-08 for HM Treasury [by Command] [Cm. 7408] [Yvette Cooper].
10 Government Trading Funds,—Report and Accounts of OGCBuying.Solutions for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 665] [Clerk of the House].
11 Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development,—Report and Financial Statements of English Partnerships (including the Commission for the New Towns and the Urban Regeneration Agency) for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 700] [Secretary Hazel Blears].
12 Local Government,—(1) Local Government Financial Statistics: England (No. 11) for 2000;
(2) Local Government Financial Statistics: England (No. 12) for 2001;
(3) Local Government Financial Statistics: England (No. 13) for 2002;
(4) Local Government Financial Statistics: England (No. 14) for 2003; and
(5) Local Government Financial Statistics: England (No. 15) for 2004
[by Act] [Secretary Hazel Blears].
Papers withdrawn:
13 National Health Service,—Report and Accounts of NHS Business Services Authority for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [No. 1422] [laid 30th June].
APPENDIX II
Reports from Select Committees
1 Business and Enterprise, Defence, Foreign Affairs and International Development,—Scrutiny of Arms Export Controls (2008): UK Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2006, Quarterly Reports for 2007, licensing policy and review of export control legislation: First Joint Report from the Business and Enterprise, Defence, Foreign Affairs and International Development Committees, being the Eighth Report from the Business and Enterprise Committee, the Twelfth Report from the Defence Committee, the Eighth Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Eighth Report from the International Development Committee, with Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committees relating to the Report, and Memoranda reported and ordered to be published on 17th January, 20th March and 19th May [No. 254] [Roger Berry].
2 Health,—Foundation Trusts and Monitor: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Health Committee; to be printed [No. 833-i] [Mr Kevin Barron].
3 Liaison,—The Prime Minister: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Liaison Committee; to be printed [No. 192-ii] [Mr Alan Williams].
[W.H., No. 80]
Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall
The sitting began at half-past Two o'clock.
Adjournment.
Subject: Women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system.
Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Mark Tami.)
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till Tuesday 8th July.
[Adjourned at 6.18 p.m.
Sir Alan Haselhurst
Deputy Speaker
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