Lords Sitting of 11 May 2001

Preamble
The House met at half-past nine of the clock: The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
Prayers—Read by the Lord Bishop of Bradford.

International Criminal Court Bill
Returned from the Commons agreed to with a privilege amendment; the amendment considered and agreed to.

Business
Lord Carter: My Lords, it may be for the convenience of the House if I explain what will be happening this morning. This House has completed all its substantive business on Bills, but there are three Bills which have still to be considered in another place this morning. It is therefore necessary for us to adjourn and await Messages from the Commons on those three Bills. I am afraid that I do not know how long it will take for the Commons to complete its business and send us the Messages. I understand that it is likely to be something between one and three hours. It would be wrong to make invidious comparisons between the two Houses on the expedition of business.
I suggest that the House should adjourn during pleasure. We will then watch developments in the Commons carefully and when it becomes clear that the Messages are on their way I shall arrange for a message to be put on the annunciator which will give 10 minutes' notice that this House will reconvene.
We will then sit to receive the Messages, which I should tell your Lordships will be very brief indeed. It will then be necessary to adjourn again for about 30 minutes to allow the various formalities to be gone through. We will then sit for a third time for the Royal Assent and that will complete our business.
I hope that your Lordships will find the arrangements acceptable. I beg to move that the House do now adjourn during pleasure until a time to be announced on the annunciator.
Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
[The Sitting was suspended from 9.37 until 11.25 a.m.]

Children's Commissioner for Wales Bill
  Armed Forces Bill

    Social Security Contributions (Share Options) Bill
    Returned from the Commons with the amendments agreed to.
    Lord Carter: My Lords, the more perceptive of your Lordships will have noticed that the Messages have arrived from the Commons. I beg to move that the House do now adjourn during pleasure until 11.50, when we will return for Royal Assent.
    Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
    [The Sitting was suspended from 11.27 until 11.50 a.m.]

Royal Assent
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): My Lords, I have to notify the House, in accordance with the Royal Assent Act 1967, that the Queen has signified Her Royal Assent to the following Acts:

Appropriation Act,

Finance Act,

Special Educational Needs and Disability Act,

Social Security Fraud Act,

Private Security Industry Act,

House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act,

Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Act,

Health and Social Care Act,

Criminal Justice and Police Act,

International Criminal Court Act,

Children's Commissioner for Wales Act,

Armed Forces Act,

Social Security Contributions (Share Options) Act.

Lord Carter: My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.
Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
House adjourned at nine minutes before noon.