HOUSE OF LORDS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Monday 16th October 2006

The House met at half-past two o’clock.

PRAYERS were read by the Lord Bishop of Newcastle.

Judicial Business

1.  R (on the application of Khan) (Petitioner) v. Staines County Court (Respondent)—The petition of Sarah Noor Khan praying for leave to appeal was presented without payment of the fee, such fee having been waived by the Appeal Committee pursuant to Standing Order XIII and referred to an Appeal Committee (lodged 3rd August).

2.  R (on the application of National Grid Gas plc (formerly Transco plc)) (Appellants) v. Environment Agency (Respondents) (Civil Appeal from Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice)—It was ordered that the appellants be allowed to prosecute the appeal without giving the usual security for costs, the respondents having signified their consent thereto within the time limited by Standing Order.

3.  Appeal Committee—The 131st Report from the Appeal Committee was agreed to and the following Order was made—

R (on the application of M) (FC) (Petitioner) v. London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (Respondents)—That leave to appeal be given, and that the petition of appeal be lodged by 30th October.

Papers

4.  Instrument withdrawn—The following instrument, laid before the House on 9th October, was withdrawn:

Draft Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Juxtaposed Controls) (Amendment) Order 2006.

5.  Command Paper—The following paper, having been presented to the House by command of Her Majesty, was ordered to lie on the Table:

Freedom of Information—Government Response to the Seventh Report of the House of Commons Constitutional Affairs Committee on Freedom of Information.    (6937)

6.  Affirmative Instrument—The following instrument was laid before the House for approval by resolution and ordered to lie on the Table:

Draft Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Juxtaposed Controls) (Amendment) Order 2006, laid under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, together with an Explanatory Memorandum.

7.  Negative Instruments—The following instruments were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:

1.  Special Trustees for the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, University Hospital National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2006, laid under the National Health Service Act 1977;  (2691)

2.  Pension Protection Fund (Levy Ceiling) Regulations 2006, laid under the Pensions Act 2004;    (2692)

3.  Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, laid under the European Communities Act 1972;    (2701)

4.  Equine Infectious Anaemia (Compensation) (England) Order 2006, laid under the Animal Health Act 1981;    (2740)

5.  Companies Act 1985 (Small Companies’ Accounts and Audit) Regulations 2006, laid under the Companies Act 1985.    (2782)

8.  Papers not subject to parliamentary proceedings—The following papers were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:

1.  (i)  Accounts for 2005-06 of the National Loans Fund, together with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General—

(ii)  Accounts for 2005-06 of the Consolidated Fund, together with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General—

laid under the National Loans Act 1968;

2.  Consolidated Accounts for 2005-06 of the Local Probation Boards, together with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, laid under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000;

3.  Statement of Principles and Administrative Arrangements for Qualifying Revenue and Mutliplex Revenue for Radio Licensees, laid under the Broadcasting Act 1990.

Private Business

9.  Transport for London Bill [HL]—The petition against the bill from The Licensed Private Hire Car Association (No.3) was withdrawn.

Public Business

10.  Animal Welfare Bill—It was moved by the Lord Rooker that the amendments for the Report stage be marshalled and considered in the following order:

11.  Violent Crime Reduction Bill—The report was received; amendments were moved and (by leave of the House) withdrawn; amendments were disagreed to (see division lists 1 and 2); amendments were agreed to; further consideration on report was adjourned.

12.  Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) (Consequential Provisions) Order 2006—It was moved by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath that the draft Order laid before the House on 11th July be approved; after debate, the motion was agreed to.

13.  Regulatory Reform (Agricultural Tenancies) (England and Wales) Order 2006—It was moved by the Lord Rooker that the draft Regulatory Reform Order laid before the House on 5th July be approved; after debate, the motion was agreed to.

The House was adjourned during pleasure.The House was resumed.

14.  Violent Crime Reduction Bill—The bill was further considered on report; amendments were agreed to; an amendment was moved and (by leave of the House) withdrawn; it was ordered that bill be printed as amended. (HL Bill 154)

The House was adjourned at seventeen minutes before ten o’clock till tomorrow, half-past two o’clock.

PAUL HAYTER

  Clerk of the Parliaments