HOUSE OF LORDS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 17th November 2004
The House met at half-past two o’clock.
PRAYERS were read by the Lord Bishop of St Albans.
Judicial Business
1. Gardner (Appellant) v. Parker (Respondent) (England)—The appeal of Mark Gardner was presented and it was ordered that in accordance with Standing Order VI the statement and appendix thereto be lodged on or before 29th December (lodged 16th November).
2. Watkins (Respondent) v. Home Office (Appellants) and others—The petition of the appellants praying that the time for lodging the statement and appendix and setting down the cause for hearing might be extended to 10th January 2005 (the agents for the respondent consenting thereto) was presented; and it was ordered as prayed.
3. Deep Vein Thrombosis and Air Travel Group Litigation (8 actions) (formerly 24 actions)—The petition of the appellants praying that the time for lodging the statement and appendix and setting down the cause for hearing might be extended to 13th December (the agents for the respondents consenting thereto) was presented; and it was ordered as prayed.
4. Percy (AP) (Appellant) v. Church of Scotland Board of National Mission (Respondents) (Scotland)—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 29th November (the agents for the respondents consenting thereto) was presented; and it was ordered as prayed.
Papers
5. Affirmative Instrument—The following instrument was laid before the House for approval by resolution and ordered to lie on the Table:
Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 (Specified Organisations) Order 2004, laid under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, together with an Explanatory Memorandum. (3009)
6. Negative Instruments—The following instruments were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Occupational Pensions (Revaluation) Order 2004, laid under the Pension Schemes Act 1993; (2948)
2. Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Functions) Order 2004, laid under the Scotland Act 1998. (2980)
3. Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2004, laid under the Road Traffic Act 1988. (3028)
7. Papers not subject to parliamentary proceedings—The following papers were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Accounts for 2003-04 of the Stoke Education Action Zone, laid under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, together with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General;
2. Accounts for 2001-02 relating to issues from the National Loans Fund, laid under the National Loans Act 1968, together with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General;
3. Report on Public Library Matters, laid under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964;
4. Accounts for 2003-04 of the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England, laid under the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967;
5. First Report on the Operation of the International Monitoring Commission Agreement and the Amendments to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, laid under the Northern Ireland (Monitoring Commission etc.) Act 2003.
Select Committee Report
8. Human Rights—The 23rd Report from the Joint Committee, Scrutiny of Bills: Final Progress Report, together with appendices, was made and ordered to be printed. (HL Paper 210)
Public Business
9. Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill—The Commons reason was considered; the Lords amendment was not insisted on.
10. Civil Contingencies Bill—The bill was returned from the Commons with certain amendments disagreed to with reasons for such disagreement; with certain other amendments disagreed to but with amendments proposed in lieu thereof; and with the remaining amendments agreed to; the Commons amendments and reasons were ordered to be printed. (HL Bill 134)
11. Civil Partnership Bill [HL]—The Commons amendments were considered; amendments in lieu of a Commons amendment were disagreed to (see division list 1); the Commons amendments were agreed to.
12. Housing Bill—The bill was returned from the Commons with the amendments agreed to.
13. Pensions Bill—The Commons amendments and reason were considered; a Commons amendment to a Lords amendment was agreed to; an amendment in lieu of a Lords amendment was agreed to (see division list 2); the remaining Lords amendments were not insisted on and the Commons amendments in lieu thereof were agreed to; then the bill was returned to the Commons with an amendment.
14. Hunting Bill—The bill was returned from the Commons on Tuesday 16th November with the Lords amendments disagreed to with reasons for such disagreement; the Commons reasons were printed pursuant to Standing Order 51 (HL Bill 133); the Commons reasons were considered forthwith; a motion that the House do insist on a Lords amendment was agreed to (see division list 3); motions that the House do insist on Lords amendments were agreed to; amendments in lieu of Lords amendments were agreed to; an amendment in lieu of a Lords amendment was agreed to (see division list 4); the remaining Lords amendment was not insisted on; a Committee was appointed to propose a reason for the insistence.
The Lords following were named of the Committee:
The Committee reported that they had proposed the following reason in respect of the insistence on Lords amendment 1:
“Because it is desirable to permit registered hunting.”;
the following reason in respect of the insistence on Lords amendments 2 to 9, 11, 13 to 44, 53 and 54:
“Because this Amendment is consequential on Lords Amendment 1, on which the Lords have insisted.”;
the following reason in respect of the insistence on Lords amendments 47, 48, 50 and 51:
“Because it is desirable so to expand this class of exempt hunting.”;
and the following reason in respect of the insistence on Lords amendment 49:
“Because it is desirable to make provision for this class of exempt hunting”.
The Report was agreed to; then the bill was returned to the Commons with amendments and reasons.
15. Hunting Bill—It was moved by the Lord Whitty that the Commons Suggested Amendment be agreed to; after debate, the motion was disagreed to (see division list 5); and a message was ordered to be sent to the Commons to acquaint them therewith.
The House was adjourned at nine o’clock
till tomorrow, eleven o’clock.
PAUL HAYTER
Clerk of the Parliaments | 
