HOUSE OF LORDS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 28th January 2004
The House met at half-past two o’clock.
PRAYERS were read by the Lord Bishop of Manchester.
1. Lord Scanlon—The Lord Chancellor acquainted the House that Lord Scanlon, a member of the House, had died on 27th January 2004.
Judicial Business
2. Hinchy (Respondent) v. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Appellant)—The petition of the appellant praying that the time for lodging the statement and appendix and setting down the cause for hearing might be extended to 26th February next (the agents for the respondent consenting thereto) was presented; and it was ordered as prayed.
3. Brooks (FC) (Respondent) v. Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis (Appellant) and others—The respondent’s certificate of public funding was lodged.
4. Appeal Committee—The 17th Report from the Appeal Committee was agreed to and the following Order was made—
Regina v. Her Majesty’s Coroner for the Western District of Somerset (Respondent) and another (Appellant) ex parte Middleton (FC) (Respondent)—That the petition of the Coroners’ Society of England and Wales that they might be heard or otherwise intervene in the said appeal be allowed to the extent that they may lodge written submissions only.
Papers
5. Command Paper—The following paper was presented to the House by command of Her Majesty and ordered to lie on the Table:
Dr David Kelly—Report of the Inquiry by Lord Hutton into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly. (—)
6. Affirmative Instrument—The following instrument was laid before the House for approval by resolution and ordered to lie on the Table:
Draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2004, laid under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979, together with an Explanatory Memorandum.
7. Paper not subject to parliamentary proceedings—The following paper was laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
Report on the Navan Centre by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland, laid under the Northern Ireland Act 2000.
Select Committee Reports
8. Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform—The following reports from the Select Committee were made and ordered to be printed:
5th Report, on the following bills:
Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill [HL];
Smoking in Public Places (Wales) Bill [HL];
Energy Bill [HL]—Government amendments for Committee Stage;
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill [HL]—Government Response and Government amendment for Report Stage; (HL Paper 31)
6th Report, on the following Orders:
Proposal for the draft Regulatory Reform (Patents) Order 2004;
Draft Regulatory Reform (Sunday Trading) Order 2004. (HL Paper 32)
Public Business
9. 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 Gardner of Parkes and the Lord Astor of Hever set down for today shall each be limited to 2½ hours; the motion was agreed to.
10. Postal services (2½-hour debate)—It was moved by the Baroness Gardner of Parkes that there be laid before the House papers relating to the Post Office and the postal services; after debate, the motion was (by leave of the House) withdrawn.
11. Zimbabwe (2½-hour debate)—It was moved by the Lord Astor of Hever that there be laid before the House papers relating to the situation in Zimbabwe; after debate, the motion was (by leave of the House) withdrawn.
12. Iraq—The Lord Rea asked Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the total costs to date in economic and human terms of the recent conflict in Iraq and the likely future costs of the occupation, reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq; after debate, the question was answered by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean.
The House was adjourned at nine minutes before ten o’clock
till tomorrow, eleven o’clock.
PAUL HAYTER
Clerk of the Parliaments
APPENDIX
PROCEEDINGS OF THE GRAND COMMITTEE (IN COMMITTEE ROOMS 3A AND 4B)
The Committee met at half-past four o’clock.
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill [HL]—The bill was further considered in the Grand Committee; amendments were moved and (by leave of the Committee) withdrawn; the Committee was adjourned after amendment 39.
The Committee was adjourned at a quarter past seven o’clock. | 
