Questions dealt with the treatment of young offenders; grey squirrels; the Councillors Commission report Representing the Future; and Kenya. Lady Ashton repeated a statement made by the Prime Minister in the Commons on the use of communications intercepts as evidence; and then at 4.18pm the committee stage of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill resumed for its second day. There was a Question for Short Debate on Zimbabwe during the dinner break. The House adjourned at 10.13pm.

In Grand Committee the fifth day of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [HL] was taken.

The House was informed of the death of Lord Thomas of Gwydir.

The first question concerned changes to the law governing the holding of peaceful demonstrations in Parliament Square; Other questions dealt with the World Economic Forum at Davos; the People’s Mujaheddin Organisation of Iran; and the reorganisation of the National Offender Management Service.

The Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill was considered in Committee. During the dinner break there was a question for short debate on the arrangements for preserving Government archives and preparing official histories.

The House adjourned at 9.54pm

The third day of the Grand Committee on the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill was taken in the Moses Room.

Questions dealt with planning for a possible influenza pandemic; postgraduate medical education; accommodation for Peers and staff during the refurbishment of 2 Millbank, which is due to begin in July; and the confidence that universities have in A-levels. The National Insurance Contributions Bill was brought up from the House of Commons and read a first time.

The order of commitment relating to the Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill was discharged - as no amendments have been proposed.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill had its third reading - and has been sent to the House of Commons. The committee stage of the Climate Change Bill was completed. The European Communities (Finance) Bill was given its second reading. Approval was given to the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc)(Amendment) Order 2008 and the Representation of the People (Scotland)(Amendment) Regulations 2008.

The House adjourned at 9.27pm

The Employment Bill was considered in Grand Committee.

Progress made towards meeting the 78 recommendations made in 2002 by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding children’s rights in the United Kingdom; the proposed withdrawal of the Watford Junction to Gatwick Airport rail service; progress made in preventing the transport of live horses for slaughter across national boundaries; and the Bluetongue disease - were the subject of questions.

The Two major debates were on the Government’s consultation paper on War Powers and Treaties (Cm 7239); and on the case for the setting up of a Women’s Justice Board. Some delegated legislation was approved. The House rose at 5.39pm.

The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill was given its second day of consideration in Grand Committee.

Questions included plans for electricity generation; limits on expenditure by political parties during general elections and on publicity and advertising between general elections; levels of malnutrition amongst NHS patients; and the Ministry of Justice’s Review of Voting Systems (Cm 7304).

A third Reading was given to the Local Transport Bill. The Payments into the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund etc. Order 2007 was approved and the Climate Change Bill was furthered considered in committee. The House adjourned at 11.01pm.

Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill was furthered considered in Grand Committee.

Questions covered the costs to the Exchequer arising from Metronet going into administration; Election Observers for UK Elections; Unexploded landmines in the Falklands; and take up of bursaries at British Universities. The Electricity and Gas (Carbon Emissions Reduction) Order 2008 was approved, after a short exchange between Lord Jenkin of Roding and the DEFRA Minister Lord Rooker. The Report Stage of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill was taken, and the day concluded with the approval of the Greater London Authority Elections (Election Addresses)(Amendment) Order 2008. The House rose at 7.29pm.

The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill had the first day of its Grand Committee in the Moses Room from 3.30pm - 7.29pm.

The Government was asked what advice they have given to companies in the private sector on pay increases; proposed cuts in primary healthcare in rural Northumberland; mixed sex wards in hospitals; and why Virgin trains were denied the authority to add two coaches to its trains on the West Coast main line.

Baroness Royall, the new Government Chief Whip, was appointed a member of the panel of Deputy Chairmen of Committees and of the Administration and Works; Privileges; Procedure; and Selection committees, in place of Lord Grocott. Her appointment as Chief Whip was welcomed around the House, and tributes were paid to Lord Grocott who announced his retirement as Chief Whip last week.

Three pieces of secondary legislation were approved without debate. The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Bill was further considered on Report. The house adjourned at 10.07pm.

The Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill was further considered in Grand Committee.

Scottish sovereignty; Boatmasters' licences; the Common Fisheries Policy; and progress with the signing of the contract for the two new aircraft carriers - were the subject of questions. The Sale of Student Loans Bill was brought from the Commons and given its 1st Reading. Debates were held on Iraq; and the role of non-governmental organisations delivering services on behalf of the Government. A Question for Short Debate was taken on the review of Part IX of the Drug Tariff.
The House adjourned at 6.02pm.

There were a series of QSDs in Grand Committee which covered Capacity on the railways; Coroners; the Central American Integration System; and People Trafficking.

Questions dealt with the release into the wild of grey squirrels; whether broadcasters should be required to broadcast details of parliamentary business; child poverty; and elections in Pakistan. The Climate Change Bill was again considered in committee. In the dinner break the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) Order 2008 was approved. The House sitting was suspended from 8.13 to 8.45. The House adjourned at 10.18pm.

The Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill was considered in Grand Committee.

Lord Roberts asked Her Majesty’s Government: Whether they propose to change the relationship between the Bank of England and HM Treasury? The answer was no, but propted a timely discussion on such matters. Lord Steelasked about providing a statutory basis for the House of Lords Appointment Commission - one of the measures in his bill that hit such choppy waters last Thursday. Other questions dealt with increasing the duty free allowance; and the teaching of geography in schools. A private members bill to establish an Office for Retail Planning given its first reading.

The main business of the day was the second reading of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill. There was a Question for Short Debate on the Middle East. The House adjourned at 9.51pm.

A number of pieces of delegated legislation were considered in Grand Committee.