No. 31 251 House of Commons Thursday 12 July 2012 Votes and Proceedings The House met at 10.30 am. PRAYERS. 1 Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 2 Urgent Question: Olympics security (Secretary Theresa May) 3 Statements: (1) Balance of competences (Secretary William Hague) (2) Business (Leader of the House) 4 Court of Justice of the European Union Resolved, That this House takes note of the draft Regulation 2011/0901A(COD) of the European Parliament and of the Council (amending the Protocol on the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union and Annex 1 thereto) and draft Regulation 2011/0902(COD) (relating to temporary Judges of the European Union Civil Service Tribunal) and, in accordance with section 10 of the European Union Act 2011, approves Her Majesty’s Government’s intention to support the adoption of draft Regulations 2011/0901A(COD) and 2011/0902(COD) of the European Parliament and of the Council.—(Mr David Lidington.) 5 Preparation of the 2013 European Union Budget Motion made and Question proposed, That this House takes note of an unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 5 June 2012 from HM Treasury on the Statement of Estimates of the Commission for 2013 (Preparation of the 2013 Draft Budget); recalls the agreement at the October 2010 European Council and the Prime Minister’s letter of 18 December 2010 to European Commission President Manuel Barroso, which both note that it is essential that the European Union budget and the forthcoming Multi-Annual Financial Framework reflect the consolidation efforts of Member States to bring deficit and debt onto a more sustainable path; notes that this is a time of ongoing economic fragility in Europe, with countries across Europe taking difficult decisions to reduce public spending; agrees that the Commission’s proposed 6.8 per cent increase in European Union spending in 2013 is unacceptable; agrees that the Commission’s proposal for a larger European Union budget is not the way to fix Europe’s problems, and that large savings are feasible without compromising economic growth; notes that the proposed increase would impose unaffordable costs on taxpayers in the UK and other Member States; notes that UK contributions to the European Union budget have also risen in recent years due to the 2005 decision to give away parts of the UK rebate; and so supports the Government in seeking significant savings to the Commission’s proposals across all budget headings and in its strenuous efforts to limit the size of the 2013 European Union budget.—(Mr Mark Hoban.) Amendment proposed, in line 15, to leave out from ‘States’ to the end and add ‘notes that the UK’s ability to negotiate a satisfactory European Union budget deal has been weakened by the Prime Minister’s failure to secure allies for a more prudent settlement in this qualified majority decision; and so calls on the Government to strengthen its stance so that the 2013 Budget and the forthcoming Multi-Annual Financial Framework are reduced in real terms.’.— (Chris Leslie.) Question put, That the Amendment be made. 252 Votes and Proceedings: 12 July 2012 No. 31 The House divided. Division No. 52. Ayes: 141 (Tellers: Phil Wilson, Jonathan Ashworth). Noes: 234 (Tellers: Jenny Willott, Mr Brooks Newmark). Question accordingly negatived. Main Question put and agreed to. Resolved, That this House takes note of an unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 5 June 2012 from HM Treasury on the Statement of Estimates of the Commission for 2013 (Preparation of the 2013 Draft Budget); recalls the agreement at the October 2010 European Council and the Prime Minister’s letter of 18 December 2010 to European Commission President Manuel Barroso, which both note that it is essential that the European Union budget and the forthcoming Multi-Annual Financial Framework reflect the consolidation efforts of Member States to bring deficit and debt onto a more sustainable path; notes that this is a time of ongoing economic fragility in Europe, with countries across Europe taking difficult decisions to reduce public spending; agrees that the Commission’s proposed 6.8 per cent increase in European Union spending in 2013 is unacceptable; agrees that the Commission’s proposal for a larger European Union budget is not the way to fix Europe’s problems, and that large savings are feasible without compromising economic growth; notes that the proposed increase would impose unaffordable costs on taxpayers in the UK and other Member States; notes that UK contributions to the European Union budget have also risen in recent years due to the 2005 decision to give away parts of the UK rebate; and so supports the Government in seeking significant savings to the Commission’s proposals across all budget headings and in its strenuous efforts to limit the size of the 2013 European Union budget. 6 EU Charter of Fundamental Human Rights Motion made and Question proposed, That this House takes note of European Union Documents No. 18635/11, relating to the Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on Human rights and democracy at the heart of EU external action—towards a more effective approach, together with an unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 7 June 2012, submitted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, relating to a draft Council Decision appointing the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights, and the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, and No. 8905/12 and Addenda 1 and 2, a Commission Report to the European Parliament and the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the Application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights; notes the Commission document on the Progress on Equality Between Women and Men in 2011; endorses the Government’s intention to support the draft Decision on the EU Special Representative for Human Rights; and welcomes the Government’s work to provide for enhanced Member State oversight of the Special Representative’s activities in Articles 10 and 11 of the draft mandate.—(Mr David Lidington.) At 6.00 pm the Deputy Speaker interrupted the business (Standing Order No. 9(3)). 7 Deferred divisions Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 41(A)(3)), That, at this day’s sitting, Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply to the Motion in the name of Mr David Lidington relating to EU Charter of Fundamental Human Rights.—(Michael Fabricant.) Question agreed to. 8 EU Charter of Fundamental Human Rights Resolved, That this House takes note of European Union Documents No. 18635/11, relating to the Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on Human rights and democracy at the heart of EU external action—towards a more effective approach, together with an unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 7 June 2012, submitted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, relating to a draft Council Decision appointing the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights, and the EU Action Plan on Human Rights No. 31 Votes and Proceedings: 12 July 2012 253 and Democracy, and No. 8905/12 and Addenda 1 and 2, a Commission Report to the European Parliament and the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the Application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights; notes the Commission document on the Progress on Equality Between Women and Men in 2011; endorses the Government’s intention to support the draft Decision on the EU Special Representative for Human Rights; and welcomes the Government’s work to provide for enhanced Member State oversight of the Special Representative’s activities in Articles 10 and 11 of the draft mandate. 9 Global Satellite Navigation Systems Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 119 (11)), That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 17844/11 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to a draft Regulation on the implementation and exploitation of European satellite navigation systems; and supports the Government’s aim to avoid prejudging the negotiations on the Multi- Annual Financial Framework whilst establishing more effective governance arrangements to address previously identified deficiencies within the programme, principally by ensuring that the Regulation provides greater clarity of the roles and responsibilities of different organisations, and greater budgetary transparency for Member States in order for progress of the programme to be monitored.—(Angela Watkinson.) Question agreed to. 10 Adjournment Subject: Arms Trade Treaty negotiations at the UN (Martin Caton). Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Angela Watkinson.) Adjourned at 6.45 pm until tomorrow. _________________ Other proceedings Printing of Explanatory Notes to Bills 11 International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill Explanatory Notes to the Bill to be printed (Bill 23–EN). General Committees: Reports 12 Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill Committee Mr Graham Brady (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee. Written evidence to be published. General Committees: Appointments The Speaker appoints the Chair of General Committees and members of Programming Sub- Committees, and allocates Statutory Instruments to Delegated Legislation Committees. The Committee of Selection nominates Members to serve on General Committees (and certain Members to serve on Grand Committees). 13 Disabled Persons’ Parking Badges Bill Committee Chair: Mr James Gray. Reports from Select Committees 254 Votes and Proceedings: 12 July 2012 No. 31 14 Culture, Media and Sport Committee The Gambling Act 2005: A bet worth taking?: First Report, with written evidence, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report, and written evidence reported and ordered to be published on 19 July, 16 August, 6 September, 18 and 27 October and 7 December 2011, and 10 and 19 January, 21 and 28 February and 20 and 27 March 2012, in the previous session of Parliament, and 12 June and 3 and 10 July (HC 421) (Mr John Whittingdale).