HOUSE OF LORDS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Tuesday 31st October 2006
The House met at half-past two o’clock.
PRAYERS were read by the Lord Bishop of Rochester.
Judicial Business
1. McGrath and another (as joint liquidators of HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited, FAI General Insurance Company Limited, World Marine and General Insurances Pty Limited and FAI Insurances Limited, appointed by the Supreme Court of New South Wales) and others (Petitioners) v. Riddell and others (Respondents) (as joint provisional liquidators of HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited, FAI General Insurance Company Limited, World Marine and General Insurances Pty Limited and FAI Insurances Limited, appointed by the High Court of Justice of England and Wales) (England)—The appeal of Amaca Pty Limited and Amaba Pty Limited was presented and it was ordered that in accordance with Standing Order VI the statement and appendix thereto be lodged on or before 12th December.
2. In re S (a child) (2006)—The petition of the mother praying for leave to appeal notwithstanding that the time limited by Standing Order II has expired was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee.
Papers
3. Command Paper—The following paper, having been presented to the House by command of Her Majesty, was ordered to lie on the Table:
Defence—Minute concerning the gifting of military equipment to the Iraqi Government. (—)
4. Papers not subject to parliamentary proceedings—The following papers were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Report of the making of a call-out order of members of the Reserve Forces, laid under the Reserve Forces Act 1996;
2. Report for 2005 of the Animal Procedures Committee, laid under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986;
3. Report for 2005-06 of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland, laid under the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962;
4. (i) Report and Accounts for 2005-06 of the New Opportunities Fund—
(ii) Report and Accounts for 2005-06 of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Fund—
(iii) Report for 2005-06 of Scottish Screen—
laid under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993;
5. Report and Accounts for 2005-06 of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and Arts, laid under the National Lottery Act 1998.
Select Committee Reports
5. European Union—The 46th Report from the Select Committee, Annual Report 2006, was made and ordered to be printed. (HL Paper 261)
6. Merits of Statutory Instruments—The following Report from the Select Committee was made and ordered to be printed:
47th Report, on the following negative instruments:
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006;
Curd Cheese (Restriction on Placing on the Market) (England) Regulations 2006;
Education (School Teacher Performance Management) (England) Regulations 2006. (HL Paper 263)
7. Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform—The following Report from the Select Committee was made and ordered to be printed:
26th Report, on the following bills:
Armed Forces Bill—Further Government amendments;
Charities Bill [HL]—Commons amendments;
Companies Bill [HL] (formerly Company Law Reform Bill [HL])—Commons amendments;
Road Safety Bill [HL]—Commons amendments;
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill [HL]—Commons amendments. (HL Paper 264)
8. Conventions—The Report from the Joint Committee, Conventions of the UK Parliament, was made and ordered to be printed, together with the Minutes of Evidence. (HL Paper 265)
Private Business
9. London Local Authorities Bill [HL]—It was moved by the Chairman of Committees that this House resolves that the promoters of the London Local Authorities Bill [HL] which was originally introduced in this House in the previous session on 24th January 2005 should have leave to suspend any further proceedings on the bill in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next session of Parliament according to the provisions of Private Business Standing Order 150A (Suspension of bills); the motion was agreed to and it was ordered that a message be sent to the Commons desiring their agreement thereto.
10. Transport for London Bill [HL]—It was moved by the Chairman of Committees that this House resolves that the promoters of the Transport for London Bill [HL] which was originally introduced in this House in this session on 23rd January 2006 should have leave to suspend any further proceedings on the bill in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next session of Parliament according to the provisions of Private Business Standing Order 150A (Suspension of bills); the motion was agreed to and it was ordered that a message be sent to the Commons desiring their agreement thereto.
11. Whitehaven Harbour Bill [HL]—It was moved by the Chairman of Committees that this House resolves that the promoters of the Whitehaven Harbour Bill [HL] which was originally introduced in this House in this session on 23rd January 2006 should have leave to suspend any further proceedings on the bill in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next session of Parliament according to the provisions of Private Business Standing Order 150A (Suspension of bills); the motion was agreed to and it was ordered that a message be sent to the Commons desiring their agreement thereto.
12. London Local Authorities and Transport for London Bill—It was moved by the Chairman of Committees that this House resolves that the promoters of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Bill which was originally introduced in the House of Commons in the previous session on 25th January 2005 should have leave to suspend any further proceedings on the bill in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next session of Parliament according to the provisions of Private Business Standing Order 150A (Suspension of bills); the motion was agreed to and it was ordered that a message be sent to the Commons to acquaint them therewith.
Public Business
13. Violent Crime Reduction Bill—The Commons reason was considered and the Lords amendment was not insisted on.
14. Armed Forces Bill—The report was received; amendments were disagreed to (see division lists 1 to 3); amendments were agreed to; amendments were moved and (by leave of the House) withdrawn; it was ordered that the bill be printed as amended. (HL Bill 163)
The House was adjourned at a quarter past eight o’clock till tomorrow, three o’clock.
PAUL HAYTER
Clerk of the Parliaments | 
