No. 295 2067

House of Commons Tuesday 1 May 2012 Votes and Proceedings

The House met at 1.30 pm. PRAYERS.

1 Message to attend the Lords Commissioners A Message from the Lords Commissioners was delivered by the Gentleman Usher of the . Mr Speaker, The Lords, authorised by virtue of Her Majesty’s Commission, for declaring Her to several Acts agreed upon by both Houses, and for proroguing the present Parliament, desire the immediate attendance of this Honourable House in the House of Peers, to hear the Commission read. Accordingly the Speaker, with the House, went up to the House of Peers, where a Commission was read, giving, declaring and notifying the Royal Assent to the following Acts, and for proroguing this present Parliament. The Royal Assent was given to the following Acts:— Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Act 2012 Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 Act 2012 Sunday Trading (London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) Act 2012. And afterwards Her Majesty’s Most Gracious Speech was delivered to both Houses of Parliament by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Leader of the (in pursuance of Her Majesty’s Command), as follows: My Lords and Members of the House of Commons My Government’s legislative programme has been based upon the principles of freedom, fairness and responsibility. My ministers have made it their paramount priority to reduce the deficit and restore economic growth. To this end legislation has been enacted to establish the Office of Budget Responsibility and legislation has been introduced to reform the financial services sector. My Government has set out plans to restore the public finances to a sustainable position and meet its fiscal targets. The Duke of Edinburgh and I were pleased to visit Canada and also Australia to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth. We received a warm welcome on our State Visits to the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Republic of Ireland and on our visit to the United States. We were glad to welcome his Holiness the Pope, His Highness the Emir of Qatar, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Turkey and the President of the United States of America on their visits to the United Kingdom. 2068 Votes and Proceedings: 1 May 2012 No. 295

To mark the Diamond Jubilee, city status will be bestowed on Chelmsford, Perth and St. Asaph and the City of Armagh will be granted a Lord Mayoralty. The Duke of Edinburgh and I intend to travel across the United Kingdom and my family will travel throughout the Commonwealth to take part in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Legislation has been passed in advance of the Olympic and Paralympic Games which are to be held in London later this year. Legislation has been passed with regard to my armed forces who continue to serve valiantly in Afghanistan and other places across the globe. My Government has worked to address the threat of Iranian nuclear proliferation and to help build a stable Afghanistan. My Government has worked to stem the violence in Syria and to support political and economic freedom in Libya, Egypt and Tunisia. Legislation has been enacted to reform the constitutional arrangements of the United Kingdom, including an Act to establish fixed parliamentary terms of five years. Legislation has been passed to empower local communities, to provide for elected mayors and to establish elected police commissioners in and . My ministers have worked to restore trust in political institutions and have sought to rebalance the relationship between the state and the citizen. In pursuance of this aim existing regulatory burdens have been reviewed and legislation has been passed to repeal unnecessary laws and to abolish identity cards. Legislation has been enacted to ensure that Parliament and citizens are involved in any proposals to transfer powers to the European Union. Measures have been passed to reform legal aid and the sentencing of offenders. Reform of the public services has been a priority for my ministers. To this end, legislation has been enacted to reform the National Health Service, postal services and other public services. My Government has also taken forward policies aimed at encouraging greater individual and social responsibility. Legislation has been enacted to provide teachers with greater freedom over the curriculum, to help more schools establish academy status and to allow new providers to run state schools. Legislation has been enacted to reform pensions and the welfare system. My Government established a Commission to consider wider reforms to public sector pensions and has committed itself to bringing forward legislation to implement the findings of that Commission. An Act has been passed to make fair and transparent payments to Equitable Life policy holders. My Government has championed efforts to tackle climate change and legislation has been passed to improve energy efficiency and security. My ministers have worked to foster a strong working relationship with the devolved administrations. Legislation has been enacted to strengthen the devolution settlement in Scotland. In Wales, a Commission has been established to examine the Welsh devolution settlement. My Government is committed to working closely with the Executive to rebalance the economy and build a shared future in Northern Ireland. Members of the House of Commons I thank you for the provisions which you have made for the work and dignity of the Crown and for the public services. My Lords and Members of the House of Commons I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.

No. 295 Votes and Proceedings: 1 May 2012 2069

By virtue of Her Majesty’s Commission which has now been read, we do, in Her Majesty’s name, and in obedience to Her Majesty’s Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Wednesday the ninth day of this instant May to be then here holden, and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Wednesday the ninth day of May. Speaker

APPENDIX Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1 Education Sixth Form College Corporations (Publication of Proposals) (England) Regulations 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 1158), dated 30 April 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Michael Gove).

2 Income Tax Skipton Fund Limited (Application of Sections 731, 733 and 734 of the Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005) (Amendment) Order 2012 (S.I., 2012, No. 1188), dated 30 April 2012 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mr David Gauke). Other Papers:

3 Constitutional Reform and Governance Parliamentary Pensions (Consolidation and Amendment) Regulations 1993 (Ministers’ etc Pension Scheme) (Amendment No. 2) Scheme 2012 (by Act) (Francis Maude).

CORRIGENDA Monday 19 December 2011 Item 19, Science and Technology Committee, should read: (1) The Forensic Science Service: Government Response: (i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 1960-i); (ii) Written evidence, to be published; (2) Risk perception and energy infrastructure: Written evidence, to be published; (3) Science and international development: Written evidence, to be published (Andrew Miller).

Monday 30 April Item 22, National Security Strategy (Joint Committee on), should read: National Security Strategy: Evidence, to be published (Margaret Beckett).