Session 2012-13 Volume 245
Journal for 21 March 2013
Prayers were read by the Lord Bishop of Bristol.
1 Leave of Absence Leave of absence was granted to Lord Blyth of Rowington for the remainder of this Parliament.
Public Business
2 Probation services: outsourcing A question was asked by Baroness Howe of Idlicote and answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon.
3 House of Lords: oral questions A question was asked by Lord Campbell-Savours and answered by Lord Hill of Oareford.
4 Food: fast food A question was asked by Lord Sharkey and answered by Earl Howe.
5 Human trafficking A question was asked by Baroness Doocey and answered by Baroness Stowell of Beeston.
6 Business of the House Baroness Anelay of St Johns, on behalf of Lord Hill of Oareford, moved that the motion in the name of Lord Deighton set down for today shall be limited to 3 hours and that the motion in the name of Lord Nash set down for 26 March in Grand Committee shall be limited to 2 hours. The motion was agreed to.
7 Liaison The Chairman of Committees moved that the 1st Report from the Select Committee (HL Paper 135) be agreed to. After debate, the motion was agreed to.
8 Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Bill Lord Deighton moved that the bill be now read a second time. The motion was agreed to and the Committee was negatived. Then, Standing Order 46 having been dispensed with, the bill was read a third time and passed.
9 Budget statement (3-hour debate) Lord Deighton moved that this House takes note of the Budget Statement and the economy of the United Kingdom. After debate, the motion was agreed to.
10 Jobseekers (Back to Work Schemes) Bill Lord Freud moved that the bill be now read a second time. Then Lord McKenzie of Luton moved, as an amendment to the original motion, at end to insert "but that this House deplores the Government’s incompetence in failing to provide sufficient information about its back to work schemes, which led to the need to introduce legislation with retrospective effect; deplores the need to introduce fast-track legislation when it took the Government four weeks to introduce the Jobseekers (Back to Work Schemes) Bill into Parliament and in spite of the Constitution Committee’s ongoing concerns about the fast-tracking of legislation; seeks assurances that the appeals process will be robust, speedy and efficient, and that the criteria of the independent report to be prepared under clause 2 will be strengthened to include greater details regarding the number of sanctions, the nature of those affected, the appeals process, the support available to those affected and the effectiveness of the hardship and mitigation provisions; and further seeks assurances that adequate legal advice will be provided to those affected by the introduction of this legislation." After debate, the amendment was disagreed to (see division). Then the original motion was agreed to and the bill was committed to a Committee of the Whole House.
11 Higher Education: STEM subjects (S&T Report) Lord Willis of Knaresborough moved that this House takes note of the Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Higher Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subjects (2nd Report, HL Paper 37). After debate, the motion was agreed to.
The House adjourned at 7.17pm until Monday 25 March at 2.30pm.