House of Lords Journal

Prayers were read by the Lord Bishop of Hereford.

1 Lord King of West Bromwich The Lord Speaker informed the House that Lord King of West Bromwich, a member of the House, had died on 9 January 2013.

Public Business

2 World food supplies A question was asked by Lord Judd and answered by Baroness Northover.

3 Diabetes A question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark and answered by Earl Howe.

4 Public libraries A question was asked by Lord Stevenson of Balmacara and answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie.

5 Welfare benefits: women A question was asked by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon and answered by Lord Freud.

6 Information The Chairman of Committees moved that Lord Lipsey be appointed a member of the Select Committee in place of Baroness Pitkeathley, resigned. The motion was agreed to.

7 Administration and Works The Chairman of Committees moved that the 1st Report from the Select Committee (HL Paper 96) be agreed to. Then Lord Avebury moved, as an amendment to the original motion, to leave out "agreed to" and insert "referred back to the Committee for further consideration; and that it be an instruction to the Committee that any future recommendations allow for Members to continue to hold press conferences in Committee Room G". After debate, the amendment was disagreed to (see division list). Then the original motion was withdrawn.

8 Disability services (Balloted debate) Lord Boateng moved that this House takes note of the report by Scope Over-looked Communities, Over-due Change, on disability services for people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. After debate, the motion was agreed to.

9 Northern Ireland Baroness Randerson repeated a ministerial statement made in the House of Commons.

11 European Union (Croatian Accession and Irish Protocol) Bill The bill was reported from the Grand Committee without amendment.

12 European Union (Approvals) Bill [HL] The bill was reported from the Grand Committee without amendment.

13 Legislative Reform (Constitution of Veterinary Surgeons Preliminary Investigation and Disciplinary Committees) Order 2013 The Grand Committee reported that it had considered the draft Legislative Reform Order.

14 Bee population (Balloted debate) Lord Moynihan moved that this House takes note of the decline in honey bees in 2012 and of measures to combat the prevalence of disease in bee colonies. After debate, the motion was agreed to.

15 Subsidiarity Assessment: Gender balance among non-executive directors (EUC Report) Lord Boswell of Aynho moved that this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on the Commission proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on improving the gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges and related measures (COM(2012)614, Council Document 16433/12) (9th Report, HL Paper 97). After debate, the motion was agreed to.

16 Subsidiarity Assessment: Gender balance among non-executive directors (EUC Report) Lord Boswell of Aynho moved to resolve that this House considers that the amended Commission proposal for a proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on improving the gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges and related measures (COM(2012)614, Council Document 16433/12) does not comply with the principle of subsidiarity, for the reasons set out in the 9th Report of the European Union Committee (HL Paper 97); and, in accordance with article 6 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, instructs the Clerk of the Parliaments to forward this reasoned opinion to the Presidents of the European institutions. The motion was agreed to.

The House adjourned at 7.18pm until Friday 11 January at 10.00am.

Grand Committee Business

The Grand Committee met in the Moses Room at 2.00pm.

European Union (Croatian Accession and Irish Protocol) Bill The bill was reported forthwith from the Grand Committee without amendment.

European Union (Approvals) Bill [HL] The bill was reported forthwith from the Grand Committee without amendment.

Legislative Reform (Constitution of Veterinary Surgeons Preliminary Investigation and Disciplinary Committees) Order 2013 Baroness Northover moved that the Grand Committee do consider the draft Legislative Reform (Constitution of Veterinary Surgeons Preliminary Investigation and Disciplinary Committees) Order 2013. After debate, the motion was agreed to.

Biological threats A question was asked by Lord Harris of Haringey and, after debate, answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire.

The Committee adjourned at 3.37pm.