The House met at 11.00am for the final sitting day of 2007. Questions dealt with UK membership of the EU, a question put by the euro-sceptic Lord Pearson of Rannoch. Lord Malloch-Brown revealed that "Britain’s trade with the European Union has grown from just over 40 per cent of our total trade in 1973 when we joined to around 55 per cent today" and "that the single market, which is a product of Brussels, boosted the EU GDP by €225 billion in 2006 alone, and we were major beneficiaries of that"

Other questions dealt with the bringing into force of ss32-36 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (taxi accessibility regulations); the cost of government funded research into organophosphates and human health; and Bolivia. The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill was given its second reading. At its conclusion a statement on the Bali Conference on Climate Change was repeated. Before the adjournment the Chief Whips of the three parties and Baroness D'Souza for the Crossbenchers spoke about retirees and all those who serve the House.

The House adjourned at 2.22pm

Lord Stern of Brentford (the author of the 'Stern Review' on the economics of climate change, a former academic, Treasury official and vice President of the World Bank) was introduced.

The first question was asked by Baroness Hollis of Heigham about the Government's commitment during the passage of the Pensions Act 2007, to help women to buy back additional national insurance years. To some surprise Lord McKenzie of Luton replied that "The Government have concluded that none of the options considered passes these assessment criteria and none is particularly well targeted, and therefore have decided to make no changes to the current rules to allow individuals to buy additional national insurance contributions."

Other questions dealt with the timing of announcement of post office closures; the EU-Africa Summit and Zimbabwe; and the Territorial Army. Secondary legislation was approved and then the House returned to the committee stage of the Climate Change Bill. This was interupted by the repeating of statements made earlier in the House of Commons on the European Council of 14th December; and Data loss by HM Revenue and Customs. During the dinner break the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business (Amendment) Regulations 2007 were considered and approved. The House then briefly adjourned until the committee on the Climate Change Bill resumed.The House adjourned at 9.56pm.

The Local Transport Bill was considered in Grand Committee from 3.30 to 7.17pm.

The House met at 10.00 for a day considering Private Members Bills. The first Bill considered was the Disabled Person (Independent Living) Bill, introduced by Lord Ashley of Stoke. In the last session a similar bill had been passed in the House of Lords but ran out of time in the Commons. The bill was read a second time, and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The Crossrail Bill was brought up from the House of Commons and read a first time.

Lord Selsdon began the 2nd Reading of his "Powers of Entry etc Bill" at 11.50. The House adjourned at 1.04pm after completing the 2nd Reading.

CHRISTMAS BREAK

This review will not be published again until after Christmas. Reports on Friday 14th, Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th will appear then.

Have a Merry Christmas

Baroness Afshar was introduced. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haleh_Afshar. It was then announced that the Royal Assent had been given to the Consolidated Fund Bill.

Questions covered the use of x-rays as an aid to age determination in immigration control; the 'hearts and minds' campaign in Afghanistan; care for patients at the end of their lives and military assistance to the African Union force in Darfur.

The two balloted debates covered 'the causes and consequences of conflict in Africa' and the Severn Barrage. Between the debates, Lord West repeated a statement made earlier in the Commons about Security Industry Authority licensing checks.

Business concluded with consideration of secondary legislation - the Immigration (Employment of Adults Subject to Immigration Control) (Maximum Penalty) Order 2007; and the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2007. The House rose at 5.57pm.

In Grand Committee the following pieces of secondary legislation were considered: the Legislative Reform (Local Authority Consent Requirements) (England and Wales) Order 2007; the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Agreement on Enlargement of the European Economic Area) Order 2007; and the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2007. The Committee adjourned at 3.48 pm

Questions covered giving reasons to parents whose children are removed from their care; provision of the oral contraceptive pill from community pharmacists; crown immunity in prisons, which caused a stir because it was answered by Lord McKenzie of DWP (who has responsibility for health and safety) rather than the Ministry of Justice; and adult social care.

2nd Reading and remaining stages of the Consolidated Fund Bill were taken, in what can not have exceeded one minute. Baroness Ashton repeated a statement made by the Prime Minister on Afghanistan.

The 4th day of the committee stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill was taken - this lasted from 4.22pm until 9.13pm, when the bill was reported without amendment and the House adjourned.

In the Moses Room the second day of the Local Transport Bill was considered in Grand Committee from 15.45 to 7.32, when the matter was adjourned until 3.30pm on Monday 17th December

Questions concerned progress towards acceding to the UN Watercourse Convention; predictions of the prison population for 2010; initiatives to stimulate energy saving; and recent developments in the Iranian nuclear programme.

The Climate Change Bill was considered in Committee. A statement on the Children's Plan was repeated by Lord Adonis. In the dinner break there was a debate on the imposition and parole of sentences of imprisonment for public protection (ss225 & 226 Criminal Justice Act 2003). The House adjourned at 10.01pm - and the second day of the Committee stage of the Climate Change Bill is due to be taken on Monday 17th December.

In the Moses Room day two of the Grand Committee on the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill was taken. Consideration of Amendment 21 began at 3.30pm and Amendment 33 had been considered when the siting was adjourned sine die at 7.34pm.

The Lord Bishop of Ely was introduced. Questions covered Energy Efficiency; Gulf War Illnesses; the dual role played by Des Browne MP as Secretary of State for both Defence and Scotland; and promoting respect internationally for UN conventions on human rights. The House then returned to its consideration at Committee Stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

In the dinner break there was a Question for Short Debate on Liverpool; the European Capital of Culture 2008. The House adjourned at 9.56pm.

The Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill was considered in Grand Committee from 3.30pm to 7.05pm. It was adjourned until 3.30pm on December 11th.

The first question concerned the Single Farm Payments of the Common Agricultural Policy and when these would start. Other questions involved the promotion of women's Football; a national motto; and requests for assistance by US authorities in investigating bribery claims with respect to the sale of aircraft to Saudi Arabia.

A Private Notice Question on plans to extend the period of pre-charge detention for terrorist suspects was asked by Baroness Neville-Jones and responded to by Lord West of Spithead. The Employment Bill was introduced and given its first reading. There followed two debates , the first on DEFRA and the second on schools. The Consolidated Fund Bill was brought from the Commons and read a first time. Then the House debated the EU Committee's report "Prum: An effective Weapon against Terrorism and Crime?". The House adjourned at 6.37pm.

The Local Transport Bill was considered in Grand Committee from 2pm until 5.49pm - clauses 1 to 16 were considered, day two is scheduled for Wednesday 12th December.

Questions covered regulation of online gambling in Gibraltar; the reform of the law of rape; the loss of data from HM Revenue & Customs; and penalties relating to party finance offences. The 1st Report of the House Committee was agreed to. The Lord Chancellor's statement on prisons was repeated by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath.

The House held a debate on the forthcoming European Council. Baroness Ashton of Upholland began the debate. She set out the background to the signing of the Lisbon Treaty and the foreign affairs issues that will be faced by the Council. Lord Grenfell described the work that the EU Select Committee is currently undertaking on an analysis of the Treaty. A number of other speeches were made - some more predictable than others. The House adjourned at 10.09pm

Questions covered the funding of adults pursuing part-time higher education, a subject that had been discussed the previous day in the dinner break. Other questions covered the action plan on people trafficking; planning permissions for new housing; and the achievements at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill was brought from the Commons and given its first reading.

The second day of the committee stage of the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Bill was taken. This continued until 7.11pm. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Order 2007 was approved and a question for short debate on Kenya was taken. The House adjourned at 8.32pm.

Questions covered the global credit crunch; progress in implementing the Charities Act 2006; roof coverage for spectators at the Olympic Games 2012; and the Prime Minister's intention not to attend the forthcoming summit of African Union and European Union leaders should Zimbabwe's Mugabe attend.

The Committee stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill began. Further details of the bill and amendments can be found at http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/humanfertilisationandembryology.html.

There was a question for short debate taken in the dinner break (7.42 to 8.42) on Adult learners. (A subject in which I have to declare a personal interest - as a tutor for the Open University, I am obviously concerned that the measures being discussed are anticipated to cause the loss of 29,000 of the OU's 120,000 students).

The committee stage restarted at 8.42 and continued until the House rose at 9.52. The second day of the committee stage is due to be taken on 4th December.