House of Lords Journal

Prayers were read by the Lord Bishop of Derby.

Select Committee Reports

1 Statutory Instruments
The following Report from the Joint Committee was made and ordered to be printed:

26th Report on certain statutory instruments, including the following affirmative instruments:
Draft Construction Contracts (England) Exclusion Order 2011
Draft Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011
Draft First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) Fees Order 2011
Draft Scheme for Construction Contracts (England and Wales) Regulations 1998 (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2011. (HL Paper 176)

2 Constitution
The following Reports from the Select Committee were made and ordered to be printed:

The Process of Constitutional Change (15th Report, HL Paper 177)
The Police (Detention and Bail) Bill. (16th Report, HL Paper 178)

Public Business

3 Office for Budget Responsibility A question was asked by Lord Barnett and answered by Lord Sassoon.

4 Prisoners: voting A question was asked by Lord Willoughby de Broke and answered by Lord McNally.

5 Monetary Policy Committee A question was asked by Lord Spicer and answered by Lord Sassoon.

6 Overseas aid: famine relief A question was asked by Baroness Tonge and answered by Baroness Verma.

7 Finance (No. 3) Bill A bill to grant certain duties, to alter other duties, and to amend the law relating to the National Debt and the Public Revenue, and to make further provision in connection with finance was brought from the Commons and read a first time.

8 Draft House of Lords Reform Bill The Chairman of Committees moved that the Commons message of 23 June be considered and that a Committee of thirteen Lords be appointed to join with the Committee appointed by the Commons to consider and report on the draft House of Lords Reform Bill presented to both Houses on 17 May (Cm 8077) and that the Committee should report on the draft Bill by 29 February 2012;

That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following members be appointed to the Committee:

1. B Andrews
2. L Hennessy of Nympsfield
3. L Bishop of Leicester
4. L Norton of Louth
5. L Richard
6. L Rooker
7. B Scott of Needham Market
8. B Shephard of Northwold
9. B Symons of Vernham Dean
10. L Trefgarne
11. L Trimble
12. L Tyler
13. B Young of Hornsey

That the Committee have power to agree with the Committee appointed by the Commons in the appointment of a Chairman;

That the Committee have power to send for persons, papers and records;

That the Committee have power to appoint specialist advisers;

That the Committee have leave to report from time to time;

That the Committee have power to adjourn from place to place within the United Kingdom;

That the reports of the Committee from time to time shall be printed, regardless of any adjournment of the House; and

That the evidence taken by the Committee shall, if the Committee so wishes, be published.

After debate, the motion was agreed to and a message was sent to the Commons.

9 Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975 (Amendment) Order 2011 Baroness Verma moved that the draft Order laid before the House on 21 March be approved. The motion was agreed to.

10 Wreck Removal Convention Bill Lord Strathclyde signified the Queen's and Prince of Wales' consents. Then the bill was read a third time and passed.

11 Afghanistan Lord Strathclyde repeated a ministerial statement made in the House of Commons.

12 Armed Forces Bill Lord Astor of Hever moved that the bill be now read a second time. After debate, the motion was agreed to and the bill was committed to a Grand Committee.

The House adjourned at 9.20pm until Thursday 7 July at 11.00am.

Grand Committee Business

The Grand Committee met in the Moses Room at 3.45pm.

The Committee adjourned at 7.41pm.