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

1    Manchester City Council Bill [Lords],—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That promoters of the Manchester City Council Bill [Lords], which was originally introduced in the House of Lords in Session 2006-07 on 21st January 2007, should have leave to suspend any further proceedings on the Bill in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament according to the provisions of Private Business Standing Order 188A (Suspension of bills)—(The Chairman of Ways and Means);

And objection being taken to further proceeding, the Debate stood adjourned.

Ordered, That the Debate be resumed to-morrow.

2    Bournemouth Borough Council Bill [Lords] ,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the promoters of the Bournemouth Borough Council Bill [Lords], which was originally introduced in the House of Lords in Session 2006-07 on 21st January 2007, should have leave to suspend any further proceedings on the Bill in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament according to the provisions of Private Business Standing Order 188A (Suspension of bills)—(The Chairman of Ways and Means);

And objection being taken to further proceeding, the Debate stood adjourned.

Ordered, That the Debate be resumed to-morrow.

3    Canterbury City Council Bill,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the promoters of the Canterbury City Council Bill, which was originally introduced in this House on 22nd January 2008, should have leave to suspend any further proceedings on the Bill in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament according to the provisions of Private Business Standing Order 188A (Suspension of bills)—(The Chairman of Ways and Means);

And objection being taken to further proceeding, the Debate stood adjourned.

Ordered, That the Debate be resumed to-morrow.

4    Leeds City Council Bill,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the promoters of the Leeds City Council Bill, which was originally introduced in this House on 22nd January 2008, should have leave to suspend any further proceedings on the Bill in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament according to the provisions of Private Business Standing Order 188A (Suspension of bills)—(The Chairman of Ways and Means);

And objection being taken to further proceeding, the Debate stood adjourned.

Ordered, That the Debate be resumed to-morrow.

5    Nottingham City Council Bill,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the promoters of the Nottingham City Council Bill, which was originally introduced in this House on 22nd January 2008, should have leave to suspend any further proceedings on the Bill in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament according to the provisions of Private Business Standing Order 188A (Suspension of bills)—(The Chairman of Ways and Means);

And objection being taken to further proceeding, the Debate stood adjourned.

Ordered, That the Debate be resumed to-morrow.

6    Reading Borough Council Bill,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the promoters of the Reading Borough Council Bill, which was originally introduced in this House on 22nd January 2008, should have leave to suspend any further proceedings on the Bill in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament according to the provisions of Private Business Standing Order 188A (Suspension of bills)—(The Chairman of Ways and Means);

And objection being taken to further proceeding, the Debate stood adjourned.

Ordered, That the Debate be resumed to-morrow.

7    European Committee B,—John Bercow reported from European Committee B, nominated in respect of European Union Documents relating to Financial Services, the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of European Union Documents No. 12149/08 and Addenda 1 and 2, draft Directive on the co-ordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS); No. 13713/08 and Addenda 1 and 2, Draft Directive amending Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC as regards banks affiliated to central institutions, certain own funds items, large exposures, supervisory arrangements, and crisis management; and No. 14317/08, Draft Directive amending Directive 94/19/EC on deposit guarantee schemes as regards coverage level and the payout delay; and endorses the Government's approach on all three draft Directives.

Resolution to lie upon the Table.

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

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

The Lords do not insist on their Amendments to the Planning Bill; to which this House has disagreed.

9    Emergency Debate (Pre-Budget Report),—Mr George Osborne, Member for Tatton, rose in his place and asked leave to move that the House should debate a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely the Pre-Budget Report; and the leave of the House having been given, the Speaker announced that the debate would be held at the commencement of public business to-morrow, for three hours, pursuant to Standing Order No. 24 (Emergency debates).

10    Children (Protection of Privacy),—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision to protect children's privacy in the media; to make provision for the protection of children from avoidable emotional distress resulting from participating in, or being the subject of, media programmes or reports; and for connected purposes: And that Kerry McCarthy, John Battle, Roger Berry, Annette Brooke, Ms Karen Buck, Alistair Burt, Mr Tom Clarke, Andrew Gwynne, Dr Doug Naysmith, Mr Jamie Reed and Alison Seabeck do prepare and bring it in.

11    Children (Protection of Privacy) Bill,—Kerry McCarthy accordingly presented a Bill to make provision to protect children's privacy in the media; to make provision for the protection of children from avoidable emotional distress resulting from participating in, or being the subject of, media programmes or reports; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 28th November and to be printed [Bill 175].

12    Defence and Security Procurement,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 119 (European Committees), That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 16488/07 and Addenda 1 and 2, draft Directive on the co-ordination procedures for the award of public contracts in the fields of defence and security; and endorses the Government's approach to the negotiations and its view that if, following European Council agreement on a text and negotiations with the European Parliament, the document remains within the UK's negotiating position, the Commission draft Directive could be supported—(Mr Frank Roy);

Tellers for the Ayes, Helen Jones, Ms Dawn Butler: 335.

Tellers for the Noes, James Duddridge, Jeremy Wright: 167.

13    Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [Lords] (Programme) (No. 2),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 83A (Programme motions), That the following provisions shall apply to the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [Lords] for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 6th October 2008 (Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [Lords] (Programme)):

Consideration of Lords Message

1. Proceedings on the Lords Message shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement at this day's sitting.

Subsequent stages

2. Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.

3. The proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement—(Mr Frank Roy):—It was agreed to.

14    Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [Lords],—The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Lords Message relating to the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [Lords].

Lords Amendment No. 7A in lieu of words left out of the Bill by Commons Amendment No. 7 was agreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 10A in lieu of words left out of the Bill by Commons Amendment No. 10 was agreed to.

15    Pensions Bill (Programme) (No. 2),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 83A (Programme motions), That the following provisions shall apply to the Pensions Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 7th January 2008 (Pensions Bill (Programme)):

Consideration of Lords Amendments

1. Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion three hours after their commencement at this day's sitting.

Subsequent stages

2. Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.

3. The proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement—(Mr Frank Roy);

Tellers for the Ayes, Helen Jones, Ms Dawn Butler: 327.

Tellers for the Noes, Michael Fabricant, Jeremy Wright: 175.

16    Pensions Bill,—The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Lords Amendments to the Pensions Bill.

Lords Amendments Nos. 1 to 56 were agreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 57.

An Amendment ((a)) was proposed to the Lords Amendment, in line 46, to leave out subsection (9).—(Mr Nigel Waterson.)

And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made;

Tellers for the Ayes, Michael Fabricant, James Duddridge: 220.

Tellers for the Noes, Ms Dawn Butler, Helen Jones: 286.

17    Standing Orders (Select Committees),—Ordered, That the following Amendments be made to Standing Orders—

(1) In Standing Order No. 125, line 2, leave out 'the examination of witnesses' and insert 'oral evidence sessions'.

(2) In Standing Order No. 128, line 5, leave out 'minutes of the proceedings' and insert 'formal minutes'.

(3) In Standing Order No. 129,

(a) line 1, leave out 'minutes of the proceedings' and insert 'formal minutes', and

(b) line 2, leave out 'laid on the Table of' and insert 'reported to'.

(4) In Standing Order No. 130, line 2, leave out 'minutes of' and insert 'record of the'.

(5) In Standing Order No. 131, line 2, leave out 'under examination'.

(6) In Standing Order No. 133, line 3, leave out 'minutes of the'.

(7) In Standing Order No. 135, line 5, leave out 'memoranda of evidence' and insert 'written evidence'.

(8) In Standing Order No. 137,

(a) line 4, leave out 'minutes of proceedings' and insert 'formal minutes',

(b) line 5, leave out 'minutes of', and

(c) line 12, leave out 'laid upon the Table' and insert 'reported'.

(9) In Standing Order No. 139, line 34, leave out 'minutes of their proceedings' and insert 'its formal minutes'.

(10) In Standing Order No. 143, line 62, leave out 'minutes of'.

(11) In Standing Order No. 145, line 35, leave out 'minutes of'.

(12) In Standing Order No. 146, line 27, leave out 'minutes of'.

(13) In Standing Order No. 152,

(a) line 21, leave out 'minutes of',

(b) line 22, leave out 'to lay upon the Table of the House the minutes of the proceedings' and insert 'the formal minutes', and

(c) line 28, leave out 'minutes of their proceedings' and insert 'their formal minutes'.

(14) In Standing Order No. 152A, line 26, leave out the words 'minutes of'.—(Chris Bryant.)

18    Committees Meeting Concurrently,—Ordered, That the following Amendments be made to Standing Orders:

(1) No. 124 (Quorum of select committees):

Line 6, leave out from 'concurrently' to 'Standing' in line 7 and insert 'pursuant to sub-paragraphs (1)(b) or (1)(ba) of'.

(2) No. 137A (Select committees: power to work with other committees)

Line 14, at end insert the following sub-paragraph-

'(ba) to agree with any other select committee or sub-committee of this House on the exercise of any power which each of those committees, or sub-committees may separately have to appoint specialist advisers, to authorise witnesses to publish written evidence submitted by them, or to adjourn from place to place;'.—(Chris Bryant.)

19    Welsh Grand Committee,—Ordered, That—

(1) the matter of Public Expenditure in Wales be referred to the Welsh Grand Committee for its consideration;

(2) the Committee shall meet at Westminster on Wednesday 17th December at Nine o'clock and between Two o'clock and half-past Four o'clock to take questions under Standing Order No. 103 (Welsh Grand Committee (questions for oral answer)) and to consider the matter referred to it under paragraph (1) above; and

(3) this Order shall be a temporary Standing Order of the House.—(Chris Bryant.)

20    Adjournment.

Subject: Release from prison of Mr John Haase and Mr Paul Bennett (Mr Peter Kilfoyle).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Barbara Keeley.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till three minutes to Nine o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 8.57 p.m.

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    Financial Services and Markets,—(1) Draft Open-Ended Investment Companies (Amendment) Regulations 2008; and

(2) draft Unit Trusts (Electronic Communications) Order 2008

[by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda and Impact Assessments thereon [by Command] [Ian Pearson].

2    Social Security,—Draft Child Benefit (Rates) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Stephen Timms].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

3    Education,—(1) Education (Student Support) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 2939), dated 13th November 2008; and

(2) Rodbaston College, Cannock Chase Technical College and Tamworth and Lichfield College (Dissolution) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 2992), dated 16th November 2008

[by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Secretary John Denham].

4    Electricity,—(1) Electricity (Exemption from the Requirement for a Generation Licence) (Gunfleet Sands II) (England and Wales) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 3046); and

(2) Electricity (Exemption from the Requirement for a Generation Licence) (Little Cheyne Court) (England and Wales) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 3045),

dated 22nd November 2008 [by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda and Impact Assessments thereon [by Command] [Secretary Edward Miliband].

5    Financial Services,—Definition of Financial Instrument Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 3053), dated 24th November 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Ian Pearson].

6    Race Relations,—Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 3008), dated 19th November 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell].

7    Road Traffic,—(1) Mutual Recognition of Driving Disqualifications (Great Britain and Ireland) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 3010), dated 19th November 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment [by Command]; and

(2) Removal, Storage and Disposal of Vehicles (Prescribed Sums and Charges) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 3013), dated 20th November 2008 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command]

[Secretary Geoff Hoon].

Other Papers:

8    Atomic Energy Authority,—Report and Accounts of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1153] [Clerk of the House].

9    Government Resources and Accounts,—(1) Accounts of the Fleet Air Arm Museum for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1205] [Clerk of the House]; and

(2) Treasury Minute, dated 25th November 2008, directing the application of certain amounts as appropriations in aid of the Estimates for the year ending 31st March 2009 [by Act] [Yvette Cooper].

10    National Loans,—Accounts relating to issues from the National Loans Fund for 2006-07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 807] [Clerk of the House].

11    National Lottery,—Account of the National Lottery Distribution Fund for 2007-08 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1172] [Secretary Andy Burnham].

12    Supply Estimates, 2008-09,—Winter Supplementary Estimates for Central Government [by Command]; to be printed [No. 1163] [Yvette Cooper].

13    Supply Estimates, 2009-10,—Estimates for which a Vote on Account is required for 2009-10 for—

(1) Central Government [by Command]; to be printed [No. 1039] [Yvette Cooper];

(2) the Electoral Commission [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1160] [The Speaker];

(3) the House of Commons: Administration [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1136] [The Speaker]; and

(4) the National Audit Office [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1171] [Mr Alan Williams].

14    Value Added Tax,—(1) Explanatory Memorandum to the Value Added Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 3021); and

(2) Explanatory Memorandum to the Value Added Tax (Change of Rate) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 3020)

[by Command] [Stephen Timms].

15    Work and Pensions,—Paper, entitled Improving health and work: changing lives: The Government's Response to Dame Carol Black's Review of the health of Britain's working-age population [by Command] [Cm. 7492] [Secretary James Purnell].

Papers withdrawn:

16    Atomic Energy Authority,—Report and Accounts of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority for 2007-08, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [laid 21st July].

17    Social Security,—Draft Child Benefit (Rates) (Amendment) Regulations 2008, with an Explanatory Memorandum [laid 24th November].

18    Value Added Tax,—(1) Explanatory Memorandum to the Value Added Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 3021) [laid 24th November]; and

(2) Explanatory Memorandum to the Value Added Tax (Change of Rate) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 3020) [laid 24th November].

APPENDIX II

    European Committees

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1    Administration,—Record of the Administration Committee's discussions at its meeting on 25th November; to be published [Mr Frank Doran].

2    Business and Enterprise,—Energy prices follow-up: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Business and Enterprise Committee; to be printed [No. 1207-ii] [Peter Luff].

3    Culture, Media and Sport,—The Licensing Act 2003: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee; to be printed [No. 1093-iv] [Mr John Whittingdale].

4    Defence,—Defence Equipment: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Defence Committee; to be printed [No. 1198-ii] [Mr James Arbuthnot].

5    Environmental Audit,—(1) Environmental Crime: Wildlife Crime: Government Response to the Committee's Twelfth Report of Session 2003-04: Tenth Special Report from the Environmental Audit Committee; to be printed [No. 1213];

(2) Reducing CO2 and other emissions from shipping: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 1117-iv]; and

(3) The scientific basis of carbon reduction targets: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published

[Mr Tim Yeo].

6    Home Affairs,—Knife Crime: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Home Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 1206-i] [Keith Vaz].

7    Human Rights,—(1) Policing and Protest: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Joint Committee on Human Rights; to be printed [No. 826-iii];

(2) Human rights of older people in healthcare: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published; and

(3) Legislative scrutiny: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published

[Mr Andrew Dismore].

8    International Development,—HIV/AIDS: DFID's New Strategy: Twelfth Report from the International Development 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 8th and 28th October 2008 [No. 1068-I and -II] [Malcolm Bruce].

9    Justice,—Justice Reinvestment: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Justice Committee; to be printed [No. 425-x] [Sir Alan Beith].

10    Standards and Privileges,—(1) Use of pre-paid envelopes and official stationery: Nineteenth 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. 1211]; and

(2) Premature disclosure of select committee papers: Twentieth Report from the Committee on Standards and Privileges, with Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 17th June and Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 1212]

[Sir George Young].

11    Treasury,—Bank of England November 2008 Inflation Report: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Treasury Committee; to be printed [No. 1210-i] [John McFall].

12    Welsh Affairs,—The provision of cross-border public services for Wales:

(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Welsh Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 401-xvi]; and

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

[Dr Hywel Francis].

[W.H., No. 109]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

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

Subjects:

Fire services in Hertfordshire (Anne Main).

Equitable Life (Jo Swinson).

Information sharing by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (James Brokenshire).

Administration of the education maintenance allowance (Mr Gordon Prentice).

Supervision of paedophiles (Mr Rob Wilson)

Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Mr Ian Austin.)

And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 1.59 p.m.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker