HOUSE OF LORDS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Die Mercurii 13° Februarii 2002
The House met at half-past two o’clock.
PRAYERS were read by the Lord Bishop of St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich.
1. Leave of Absence—Leave of absence was granted to the Lord Chancellor for tomorrow.
2. Leave of Absence—It was ordered that leave of absence be granted to the Duke of Norfolk for the remainder of this Parliament.
3. Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret—The Queen’s answer to the Address of Tuesday last was delivered by the Lord Chamberlain (Lord Luce) and read, as follows:
I thank you sincerely for your expression of sympathy in the sad loss which I have sustained by the death of My dear sister, Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and for your condolences to My mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
We are deeply moved by the warmth of your condolences, and your thoughts and prayers are a source of comfort to Us at this time of personal sorrow.
4. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Dissolution) Order 2002—The Queen’s answer to the Address of 31st January last was delivered by the Lord Chamberlain (Lord Luce) and read, as follows:
I have received your Address praying that the draft Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Dissolution) Order 2002 be made in the form of the draft laid before your House on 8th January.
I will comply with your request.
Judicial Business
5. In re L (FC) (a minor by his father and litigation friend) (Appellant) (England)—The appeal of L was presented and it was ordered that in accordance with Standing Order VI the statement and appendix thereto be lodged on or before 27th March next.
6. BICC plc v. Parkman Consulting Engineers (a firm) (Respondents) and others (Appellants) (England)—The appeal of Cumbrian Industrials Limited was presented and it was ordered that in accordance with Standing Order VI the statement and appendix thereto be lodged on or before 27th March next.
7. In re P (FC) (a minor by his mother and litigation friend) (Appellant) (England)—The appeal of P was presented and it was ordered that in accordance with Standing Order VI the statement and appendix thereto be lodged on or before 27th March next.
8. In re Walker (Petitioner) (application for a writ of Habeas Corpus)—The petition of Neil Edward Walker praying for leave to appeal in accordance with the Administration of Justice Act 1960 was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee (lodged 7th February).
9. Co-operative Retail Services Limited and others (Respondents) v. Taylor Young Partnership and others (Appellants) and others—The petition of East Midlands Electricity Electrical Installations Services Limited (t/a Hall Electrical) (in liquidation) praying for leave to lodge a separate case was presented and ordered as prayed.
10. Societe Eram Shipping Company Limited (Respondents) and others v. Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (Appellants)—It was ordered that the appellants be allowed to prosecute the appeal without giving the usual security for costs as required by Standing Order.
11. Regina v. H (Appellant) (On Appeal from the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division))—The Secretary of State for the Home Department was joined to the appeal on behalf of the Crown in accordance with practice direction 31.
12. Appeal Committee—The 60th Report was made; the Appeal Committee reported that they had met and had heard Counsel; the report was agreed to and the following Orders were made—
Regina v. Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent) ex parte Holub (FC) and another (Petitioners)—That leave to appeal be refused; that the costs of the first petitioner be taxed in accordance with the Access to Justice Act 1999 and that the respondent’s costs be paid in accordance with section 11 of the Access to Justice Act 1999 and by the second petitioner, the amount thereof to be certified by the Clerk of the Parliaments if not agreed between the parties.
Regina v. Central Valuation Officer and another (Respondent) ex parte Edison First Power Limited (Petitioners)—That leave to appeal be given; and that the petition of appeal be lodged by 27th February.
Regina v. London Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (Petitioners) ex parte Daejan Properties Limited (Respondents)—That leave to appeal be refused; and that the petitioners do pay to the respondents the costs of the petition, the amount thereof to be certified by the Clerk of the Parliaments if not agreed between the parties.
Amersham Pharmacia Biotech AB (Petitioners) v. Amicon Limited and others (Respondents)—That leave to appeal be refused; and that the petitioners do pay to the respondents the costs of the petition, the amount thereof to be certified by the Clerk of the Parliaments if not agreed between the parties.
Papers
13. Command Papers—The following papers were presented to the House by command of Her Majesty and ordered to lie on the Table:
(i) Exchange of Notes between the United Kingdom and Jordan concerning the United Kingdom/ Jordan Retrospective Terms Agreement 1994; (5366)
(ii) Treasury Minute on the First to the Third Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts 2001-02; (5393)
2. Commercial Debts—Exchange of Notes between the United Kingdom and Gabon concerning Certain Commercial Debts (United Kingdom/Gabon Debt Agreement No. 6 (2000)). (5367)
14. Affirmative Instrument—The following instrument was laid before the House for approval by resolution and ordered to lie on the Table:
Draft Renewables Obligation Order 2002.
15. Negative Instruments—The following instruments were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2002, laid under the Superannuation Act 1972; (206)
2. (i) European Communities (Designation) Order 2002— (248)
(ii) Hill Farm Allowance Regulations 2002— (271)
laid under the European Communities Act 1972;
3. Sea Fishing (Enforcement of Community Quota and Third Country Fishing Measures) Order 2002, laid under the Fisheries Act 1981; (272)
4. Rail Vehicle Accessibility (East Hayling Light Railway Vehicles) Exemption Order 2002, laid under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; (285)
5. Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2002, laid under the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. (307)
16. Papers not subject to parliamentary proceedings—The following papers were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
(i) Al-Qa’ida and Taliban (United Nations Measures) (Amendment) Order 2002— (251)
(ii) Al-Qa’ida and Taliban (United Nations Measures) (Channel Islands) Order 2002— (258)
(iii) Al-Qa’ida and Taliban (United Nations Measures) (Isle of Man) Order 2002— (259)
(iv) Al-Qa’ida and Taliban (United Nations Measures) (Overseas Territories) (Amendment) Order 2002— (266)
laid under the United Nations Act 1946.
Select Committee Report
17. Stem Cell Research—The Report from the Select Committee was made and ordered to be printed, together with the Minutes of Evidence. (HL Paper 83(i) and (ii))
Private Business
18. HSBC Investment Banking Bill [HL]—The bill was read a second time and referred to the Examiners.
19. Milford Haven Port Authority Bill [HL]—The bill was read a second time and committed to an Unopposed Bill Committee.
Public Business
20. Business of the House—It was moved by the Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn) that the debates on the motions in the names of the Baroness O’Cathain and the Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach set down for today shall each be limited to 2½ hours; the motion was agreed to.
21. Consignia (2½ hour debate)—It was moved by the Baroness O’Cathain that there be laid before the House papers relating to the future of Consignia, its financial problems and the services it provides; after debate, the motion was (by leave of the House) withdrawn.
22. Employment Bill—A bill to make provision for statutory rights to paternity and adoption leave and pay; to amend the law relating to statutory maternity leave and pay; to amend the Employment Tribunals Act 1996; to make provision for the use of statutory procedures in relation to employment disputes; to amend the law relating to particulars of employment; to make provisions about compromise agreements; to make provision for questionnaires in relation to equal pay; to make provision in connection with trade union learning representatives; to amend section 110 of the Employment Rights Act 1996; to make provision about fixed-term work; to make provision about flexible working; to amend the law relating to maternity allowance; to make provision for work-focused interviews for partners of benefit claimants; to make provision about the use of information for, or relating to, employment and training; and for connected purposes was brought from the Commons, read a first time and ordered to be printed. (HL Bill 54)
23. Employment Bill—It was ordered that the Explanatory Notes relating to the bill be printed. (HL Bill 54-EN)
24. Wales (2½ hour debate)—It was moved by the Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach that there be laid before the House papers relating to the impact of devolution on the economic and social conditions in Wales; after debate, the motion was (by leave of the House) withdrawn.
The House was adjourned at five minutes past eight o’clock
till tomorrow, eleven o’clock.
MICHAEL DAVIES
Cler: Parliamentor:
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