The House met at half-past Ten o'clock.

1    Regulatory Reform,—Andrew Miller reported from the Regulatory Reform Committee the following Resolution:

That the draft Legislative Reform (Local Authority Consent Requirement) (England and Wales) Order 2007, which was laid before this House on Wednesday 25th July, in the last Session of Parliament, should be proceeded with unamended.

2    Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mr Roger Gale reported from the Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee the Guidance Issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.

3    Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords as follows:

Bournemouth Borough Council Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill to confer powers on Bournemouth Borough Council for the better control of street trading in the borough of Bournemouth; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.

Manchester City Council Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill to confer powers on Manchester City Council for the better control of street training in the city of Manchester; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.

4    Bournemouth Borough Council Bill [Lords],—The Bournemouth Borough Council Bill [Lords] was read the first time.

Bill referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills.

5    Manchester City Council Bill [Lords],—The Manchester City Council Bill [Lords] was read the first time.

Bill referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills.

6    Future prospects for apprenticeships in England (Topical Debate),—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House has considered the matter of future prospects for apprenticeships in England—(Mr David Lammy);

And it being one and half hours after the commencement of proceedings, the Motion lapsed without Question put, pursuant to Temporary Standing Order (Topical debates).

7    Common European Asylum System,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 10516/07, Commission Green Paper on the future Common European Asylum System; notes the continued importance of working collectively on asylum issues with other Member States; further notes the importance of the Dublin II Regulation, the current responsibility mechanism to deal with asylum seekers; and supports the Government's position that proper implementation and a full evaluation of first phase instruments should take place before embarking on a second phase of legislation—(Meg Hillier);

An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 6, to leave out from the word 'seekers' to the end of the Question and add the words 'but recognises that asylum policy, as an essential component in the control of the UK's borders, should remain under the control of the British Government,' instead thereof.—(Damian Green.)

And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made;

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr David Evennett, Mr Brooks Newmark: 136.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Bob Blizzard, Liz Blackman: 275.

And the Main Question being put;

Resolved, That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 10516/07, Commission Green Paper on the future Common European Asylum System; notes the continued importance of working collectively on asylum issues with other Member States; further notes the importance of the Dublin II Regulation, the current responsibility mechanism to deal with asylum seekers; and supports the Government's position that proper implementation and a full evaluation of first phase instruments should take place before embarking on a second phase of legislation.

8    Estimates,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 145 (Liaison Committee), That this House agrees with the Report [27th November] from the Liaison Committee—(Mr Michael Foster):—It was agreed to.

9    Government Consultation on Convicting Rapists and Protecting Victims,—Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of the Government consultation on convicting rapists and protecting victims.—(The Solicitor General.)

10    Adjournment.

Subject: Allergy services (Jo Swinson).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Liz Blackman.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till twenty-seven minutes past Six o'clock, adjourned till Monday 3rd December.

Michael J. Martin

Speaker

Mr Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Two o'clock on Monday next.

APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Other Papers:

1    Judicial Statistics,—Report by the Secretary of State for Justice and the Lord Chancellor on Judicial and Court Statistics for 2006 [by Command] [Cm. 7273] [Secretary Jack Straw].

2    Science and Technology,—Government Response to the Twelfth Report from the Science and Technology Committee, Session 2006-07, on Scientific Developments Relating to the Abortion Act 1967 [by Command] [Cm. 7278] [Secretary Alan Johnson].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1    Draft Criminal Defence Service (Very High Cost Cases) Regulations 2007,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Dominic Grieve from the First Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations) and nominated in substitution Mr Henry Bellingham.

2    Draft Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Order 2007,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Martin Horwood from the Second Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Order) and nominated in substitution Mr Alistair Carmichael.

    European Standing Committees

3    European Union Document No. 14498/97 relating to Economic Partnership Agreements,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Christopher Chope from the European Standing Committee (nominated in respect of the Document) and nominated in substitution Mr John Hayes.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

4    Health,—Public Expenditure on Health and Personal Social Services 2007: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Health Committee; to be printed [No. 26-iii] [Mr Kevin Barron].

5    Public Administration,—Lobbying: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on Public Administration; to be printed [No. 137-i] [Dr Tony Wright].

6    Treasury,—(1) Private equity: Government Response to the Committee's Tenth Report of Session 2006-07: Second Special Report from the Treasury Committee; to be printed [No. 145]; and

(2) The November 2007 Inflation Report: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 139-i]

[John McFall].

[W.H., No. 7]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at half-past Two o'clock.

Subject: Stamp of Approval? Restructuring the Post Office Network—Third Report from the Trade and Industry Committee, Session 2006-07.

A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Mr Bob Blizzard.)

And the sitting having continued for three hours, it was adjourned without Question put, till Tuesday 4th December.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker

CORRIGENDUM