HOUSE OF LORDS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 18th November 2004
The House met at eleven o’clock.
PRAYERS were read by the Lord Bishop of St Albans.
Judicial Business
1. Fayed and others (Appellants) v. Her Majesty’s Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Respondents) (Scotland)—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 3rd January 2005 (the agents for the respondents consenting thereto) was presented; and it was ordered as prayed.
2. Appeal Committee—The 124th Report from the Appeal Committee was agreed to and the following Orders were made—
Spicer (Respondent) v. Government of Spain (Petitioners)—That leave to appeal be refused; that the respondent be at liberty to apply for his costs in accordance with direction 5.1(d); and, if the application is granted, that the amount thereof be certified by the Clerk of the Parliaments if not agreed between the parties.
Evans (Petitioner) v. Amicus Healthcare Limited and others (Respondents)—That leave to appeal be refused; that the respondents be at liberty to apply for their costs in accordance with direction 5.1(d); and, if the application is granted, that the amount thereof be certified by the Clerk of the Parliaments if not agreed between the parties.
Papers
3. Command Papers—The following papers were presented to the House by command of Her Majesty and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Crime—Criminal Statistics for England and Wales 2003; (6361)
2. Air Services—Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air; (6369)
3. Culture—Agreement between the United Kingdom and Libya on the Establishment and Activities of Cultural Centres. (6371)
4. Negative Instruments—The following instruments were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Housing Benefit (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2004, laid under the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992; (2984)
2. (i) Crown Court (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2004— (2991)
(ii) Criminal Appeal (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2004— (2992)
laid under the Supreme Court Act 1981;
3. Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2004, laid under the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980. (2993)
5. Papers not subject to parliamentary proceedings—The following papers were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Report and Accounts for 2003-04 of the sportscotland Lottery Fund, laid under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993;
2. Report and Accounts for 2003-04 of the Electoral Commission, laid under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
3. International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2004, laid under the Saint Helena Act 1833. (3039)
Public Business
6. Civil Contingencies Bill—The Commons amendments and reasons were considered; certain Lords amendments were not insisted on; certain other Lords amendments were not insisted on and Commons amendments in lieu thereof were agreed to; the remaining Lords amendments were not insisted on and amendments in lieu thereof were agreed to (see division list 1); then the bill was returned to the Commons with amendments.
7. Pensions Bill—The bill was returned from the Commons on Wednesday 17th November with an amendment disagreed to with a reason for such disagreement; the Commons reason was printed pursuant to Standing Order 51 (HL Bill 135); the Commons reason was considered forthwith; an amendment in lieu of the Lords amendment was disagreed to (see division list 2), and the Lords amendment was not insisted on.
The House was adjourned during pleasure.The House was resumed.
8. Hunting Bill—The bill was returned from the Commons with certain Lords amendments to which the Commons had disagreed insisted on but with an amendment proposed in lieu thereof; and with certain other Lords amendments disagreed to; the Commons amendment was considered forthwith; a motion that the House do insist on the Lords amendments and do disagree with the Commons amendment was agreed to (see division list 3); a Committee was appointed to propose a reason for the insistence and disagreement.
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 amendments 1 to 9, 10C, 11, 12C, 13 to 44, 46C, 47 to 51, 52C, 53 and 54, and the disagreement with Commons amendment 54C:
“Because it is desirable to permit registered hunting and to make provision for commencement not before 1st December 2007.”;
the Report was agreed to; then the bill was returned to the Commons with a reason.
9. Civil Contingencies Bill—The bill was returned from the Commons with the Lords amendments disagreed to with reasons for such disagreement; the Commons reasons were considered forthwith; the Lords amendments were not insisted on.
The House was adjourned during pleasure.The House was resumed.
10. Royal Commission—The Lords Commissioners being seated, the Lord Chancellor in the middle with the Lord President (Baroness Amos) and the Lord Donaldson of Lymington on his right-hand and the Baroness Blatch and the Baroness Williams of Crosby on his left and the Commons being present at the Bar with their Speaker, the Commission for Royal Assent and Prorogation dated this day was read.
11. Royal Assent—The following Acts, passed by both Houses of Parliament, received Royal Assent:
| Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Act | c. | 32 |
| Civil Partnership Act | c. | 33 |
| Housing Act | c. | 34 |
| Pensions Act | c. | 35 |
| Civil Contingencies Act | c. | 36 |
| and the following Act, passed in accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, received Royal Assent: |
| Hunting Act | c. | 37 |
12. The Queen’s Speech—The Queen’s Speech was delivered by the Lord Chancellor.
13. Prorogation—Parliament was prorogued to Tuesday, 23rd November instant.
PAUL HAYTER
Clerk of the Parliaments | 
