No. 21 153 House of Commons Wednesday 27 June 2012 Votes and Proceedings The House met at 11.30 am. PRAYERS. 1 Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Wales (2) the Prime Minister 2 House of Lords Reform Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57) The Deputy Prime Minister, supported by the Prime Minister, Secretary William Hague, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary Kenneth Clarke, Mr Secretary Moore, Danny Alexander, Sir George Young and Mr Mark Harper, presented a Bill to make provision about the membership of the House of Lords; to make provision about the disclaimer of life peerages; to abolish the jurisdiction of the House of Lords in relation to peerage claims; to make other provision relating to peerage; and for connected purposes. Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 52) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 52–EN). 3 Recall of Elected Representatives Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57) Zac Goldsmith presented a Bill to permit voters to recall their elected representatives in specified circumstances; and for connected purposes. Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 30 November, and to be printed (Bill 50). 4 European Union Act 2011 (Amendment) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57) Mr William Cash, supported by Mr John Redwood, Mr Bernard Jenkin, Mr John Whittingdale, Mr Greg Knight, Mr Graham Stuart, Mr John Baron, Mr Richard Shepherd, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Mr Peter Bone, Chris Heaton-Harris and Zac Goldsmith, presented a Bill to apply the terms of the European Union Act 2011 such as to require approval by Act of Parliament and by referendum of provisions for creating a fiscal union or economic governance within the Eurozone. Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 6 July, and to be printed (Bill 53). 5 Electoral Registration and Administration Bill: Committee of the whole House (3rd allocated day) The House resolved itself into a Committee (Programme Order, 23 May). (In the Committee) Clauses 10 to 12 agreed to. Schedule 4 (Amendments to do with Part 1) Amendment 39 proposed.—(Wayne David.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 154 Votes and Proceedings: 27 June 2012 No. 21 Amendment 35 proposed.—(Wayne David.) Question put, That the Amendment be made. The Committee divided. Division No. 31. Ayes: 188 (Tellers: Tom Blenkinsop, Nic Dakin). Noes: 266 (Tellers: Jeremy Wright, Mr Shailesh Vara). Question accordingly negatived. Schedule agreed to. Clauses 13 and 14 agreed to. Clause 15 (Alteration of electoral registers: pending elections) Amendment 38 proposed.—(Wayne David.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause agreed to. Clauses 16 to 21 agreed to. New Clause NC1—(John Hemming)—brought up and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time. Clause, by leave, withdrawn. New Clause NC3—(Geoffrey Clifton-Brown)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time. Clause, by leave, withdrawn. New Clause NC4—(Mrs Eleanor Laing)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time. At 5.00 pm, the debate was interrupted (Programme Order, 23 May). The Chair put the Questions necessary to bring proceedings on Clauses 10 to 12, Schedule 4, new Clauses relating to Part 1, new Schedules relating to Part 1, Clauses 13 to 21, remaining new Clauses, remaining new Schedules and Clauses 22 to 26 to a conclusion (Programme Order, 23 May). The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83D). (1) That the Clause be read a second time (Question already proposed from the Chair). The Committee divided. Division No. 32. Ayes: 211 (Tellers: Susan Elan Jones, Nic Dakin). Noes: 284 (Tellers: Mark Hunter, Jeremy Wright). Question accordingly negatived. (2) That Clauses 22 to 24 stand part of the Bill (Question necessary for the disposal of business to be concluded). Question agreed to. (3) That Amendment 31 be made (Amendment selected by the Speaker for separate decision).—(Wayne David.) The Committee divided. Division No. 33. No. 21 Votes and Proceedings: 27 June 2012 155 Ayes: 204 (Tellers: Nic Dakin, Susan Elan Jones). Noes: 293 (Tellers: Mark Hunter, Jeremy Wright). Question accordingly negatived. (4) That Clauses 25 and 26 stand part of the Bill (Question necessary for the disposal of business to be concluded). Question agreed to. The occupant of the Chair left the Chair to report the Bill (Programme Order, 23 May). ________________ The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair. Angela Watkinson reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made no Amendment. 6 Deferred Divisions The Deputy Speaker announced the results of the Divisions which had been deferred to this day (Standing Order No. 41A). Criminal Law That the draft Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Notification Requirements) (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, which were laid before this House on 5 March 2012, in the previous Session of Parliament, be approved. Division No. 28. Ayes: 478. Noes: 9. Question accordingly agreed to. Criminal Law That the draft Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Remedial) Order 2012, which was laid before this House on 5 March 2012, in the previous Session of Parliament, be approved. Division No. 29. Ayes: 290. Noes: 197. Question accordingly agreed to. European Semester in the UK That this House takes note of European Union Documents No. 10834/12, relating to the Commission Communication: Action for stability, growth and jobs, No. 10557/12 and Addendum, relating to a draft Council Recommendation on the United Kingdom’s 2012 national reform programme and delivering a Council opinion on the United Kingdom’s convergence programme for 2012–2017, and No. 10846/12, relating to the Commission Staff Working Document: In depth review for the United Kingdom in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No. 1176/2011 on the prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances; welcomes the Commission’s support for the Government’s efforts to reduce the deficit and set the public finances on a sustainable path, which is consistent with the conclusions reached by the IMF and the OECD in their recent reviews of the UK economy; takes note of the Commission’s efforts to address timing difficulties with the European Semester; welcomes the Government’s approach to promoting growth domestically and at EU level; and welcomes the Government’s policy of securing assurances that the UK cannot be subject to sanctions in respect of the Stability and Growth Pact or the new Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure. Division No. 30. Ayes: 285. 156 Votes and Proceedings: 27 June 2012 No. 21 Noes: 203. Question accordingly agreed to. 7 Electoral Registration and Administration Bill: Third Reading Motion made and Question put, That the Bill be now read the third time. The House divided. Division No. 34. Ayes: 284 (Tellers: Mark Hunter, Jeremy Wright). Noes: 204 (Tellers: Susan Elan Jones, Nic Dakin). Question accordingly agreed to. Bill accordingly read the third time and passed. 8 Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval (1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Functions of Returning Officers) Regulations 2012, which were laid before this House on 15 May, be approved.—(Stephen Crabb.) Question agreed to. (2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012, which was laid before this House on 15 May, be approved.—(Stephen Crabb.) The Deputy Speaker’s opinion as to the decision of the Question was challenged. Division deferred until Wednesday 4 July (Standing Order No. 41A). (3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Inland Waterways Advisory Council (Abolition) Order 2012, which was laid before this House on 29 February 2012, in the previous Session of Parliament, be approved.—(Stephen Crabb.) Question agreed to. (4) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft British Waterways Board (Transfer of Functions) Order 2012, which was laid before this House on 29 February 2012, in the previous Session of Parliament, be approved.—(Stephen Crabb.) Question agreed to. 9 Minimum standards for the protection of victims of crime Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 119(11)), That this House takes note of the proposed draft Directive, deposited on 6 December 2011 by the Ministry of Justice, establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and repealing Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA; supports the Government in welcoming the objectives of the draft Directive; and further supports the Government’s view that existing national law or practice in England and Wales largely fulfils the obligations in the draft Directive.—(Stephen Crabb.) Question agreed to. 10 Adjournment Subject: Future of Coryton oil refinery (Stephen Metcalfe). Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—(Stephen Crabb.) House adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 9(7)). Adjourned at 7.32 pm until tomorrow. No. 21 Votes and Proceedings: 27 June 2012 157 _________________ Other proceedings General Committees: Reports 11 Third Delegated Legislation Committee Mr David Crausby (Chair) reported the draft Office of Qualifications and Examination Regulation (Determination of Turnover