HOUSE OF LORDS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 14th January 2004
The House met at half-past two o’clock.
PRAYERS were read by the Lord Bishop of St Albans.
1. Barony of Penrhyn in the Peerage of the United Kingdom—The Lord Chancellor reported that Simon Douglas-Pennant had established his succession to the Barony of Penrhyn in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The Clerk of the Parliaments was accordingly directed to enter the Lord Penrhyn on the register of hereditary peers maintained under Standing Order 10(5).
Papers
2. Affirmative Instrument—The following instrument was laid before the House for approval by resolution and ordered to lie on the Table:
Draft Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (Amnesty Period) Order 2004, laid under the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997, together with an Explanatory Memorandum.
3. Negative Instruments—The following instruments were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
(i) Health Authorities (Membership and Procedure) Amendment Regulations 2004— (17)
(ii) Primary Care Trusts (Membership, Procedure and Administration Arrangements) Amendment Regulations 2004— (18)
(iii) National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Amendment (England) Regulations 2004— (19)
(iv) Health Development Agency Amendment Regulations 2004— (20)
(v) Family Health Services Appeal Authority Amendment Regulations 2004— (21)
laid under the National Health Service Act 1977.
4. Paper not subject to parliamentary proceedings—The following paper was laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
Consolidated Accounts for 2002-03 of the Local Probation Boards of the National Probation Service, laid under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, together with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Select Committee Report
5. Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform—The following report from the Select Committee was made and ordered to be printed:
4th Report, on the following bills:
Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill [HL];
European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill;
Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill;
Executive Powers and Civil Service Bill [HL];
Wild Mammals (Protection) (Amendment) Bill [HL];
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill [HL]—Government amendments for Committee Stage. (HL Paper 21)
Public Business
6. Business of the House—It was moved by the Lord President (Baroness Amos) that the debates on the motions in the names of the Baroness Howe of Idlicote and the Lord St John of Bletso set down for today shall each be limited to 2½ hours; the motion was agreed to.
7. Liaison—It was moved by the Chairman of Committees that the 3rd Report from the Select Committee, Session 2002-03, be agreed to; then it was moved by the Lord Moran, as an amendment thereto, at end to insert “but with the omission of paragraph 4 and that an ad hoc Select Committee should be appointed without delay to make a brief assessment of the constitutional, financial and social implications of the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union and its effect on foreign and domestic policies, including the costs and benefits of continued membership”; after debate, the amendment was disagreed to (see division list); then the original motion was agreed to.
8. Direct marketing to children (2½-hour debate)—It was moved by the Baroness Howe of Idlicote that there be laid before the House papers relating to the extent of marketing aimed directly at children and the case for limiting its effects on society, children and families; after debate, the motion was (by leave of the House) withdrawn.
9. Internet broadband access (2½-hour debate)—It was moved by the Lord St John of Bletso that there be laid before the House papers relating to the measures which Her Majesty’s Government are taking to promote affordable internet broadband access throughout the United Kingdom; after debate, the motion was (by leave of the House) withdrawn.
10. Gender Recognition Bill [HL]—The bill was reported from the Grand Committee without amendment.
11. Light dues—The Lord Geddes asked Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to redistribute light dues in an equitable manner across all users; after debate, the question was answered by the Lord Triesman.
The House was adjourned at twenty-six minutes before ten o’clock
till tomorrow, eleven o’clock.
PAUL HAYTER
Clerk of the Parliaments
APPENDIX
PROCEEDINGS OF THE GRAND COMMITTEE (IN THE MOSES ROOM)
The Committee met at half-past three o’clock.
Gender Recognition Bill [HL]—The bill was further considered in the Grand Committee; amendments were moved and (by leave of the Committee) withdrawn; it was ordered that the bill be reported without amendment.
The Committee was adjourned at four minutes before eight o’clock. | 
