To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with representatives of the devolved administrations on supporting economic development in pan-regional economies that are also cross-border economies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with representatives of the devolved administrations on supporting economic development in pan-regional economies that are also cross-border economies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, about the potential impact of the Devolution White Paper on support for small businesses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, about the potential impact of the Devolution White Paper on support for small businesses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of devolving (a) the Post Office in Wales and (b) his Departmental powers to Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of devolving (a) the Post Office in Wales and (b) his Departmental powers to Wales.

Clause 1 under consideration.

Clause 1 under consideration.

Amendment 3 to clause 1 negatived on division (2 to 10). Amendment 4 to clause 1 negatived on division (2 to 10). Amendment 5 to clause 1 negatived on division (7 to 10). Amendment 22 to clause 1 negatived on division (7 to 10). Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to. Schedule 1 agreed to. Amendment 9 to schedule 2 negatived on division (7 to 10). Schedule 2 agreed to. Clause 3 agreed to. Amendment 2 to clause 4 negatived on division (2 to 9). Clause 4 agreed to. New clause 1 (Impact assessment: four nations of the UK and social, economic and environmental impacts), discussed with new clause 2 (Assessment of impact on hill farmers and crofters in Scotland), new clause 3 (Impact assessment: Geographical Indications) and new clause 4 (Impact assessment), negatived on division (2 to 8). New clause 2 (Assessment of impact on hill farmers and crofters in Scotland) negatived on division (2 to 8). New clause 3 (Impact assessment: Geographical Indications) negatived on division (2 to 9). New clause 4 (Impact assessment) negatived on division (6 to 9). Written evidence reported to the House. Bill to be reported, without amendment.

Amendment 3 to clause 1 negatived on division (2 to 10). Amendment 4 to clause 1 negatived on division (2 to 10). Amendment 5 to clause 1 negatived on division (7 to 10). Amendment 22 to clause 1 negatived on division (7 to 10). Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to....

Second reading. Reasoned amendment not selected. Agreed to on division (309 to 56). Programme motion on committal, proceedings in Public Bill Committee, consideration and third reading, and other proceedings. Agreed to on question.

Second reading. Reasoned amendment not selected. Agreed to on division (309 to 56). Programme motion on committal, proceedings in Public Bill Committee, consideration and third reading, and other proceedings. Agreed to on question.

Clause 2, discussed with new clause 5 (Parliamentary scrutiny of free trade agreements before signature), new clause 6 (Sustainability impact assessments), new clause 7 (Parliamentary consent to launch of trade negotiations), new clause 8 (Availability of agreement texts), new clause 19 (Report on proposed free trade agreement), new clause 20 (Report to be laid with regulations under section 2(1)) and new clause 16 (Role of Joint Ministerial Committee), under consideration. Amendment 4 negatived on division (7 votes to 9). Amendment 5 negatived on division (7 votes to 9). Amendment 10 negatived on division (7 votes to 10). Amendment 11 negatived on division (7 votes to 10). Amendment 12 negatived on division (7 votes to 10). Amendment 13 negatived on division (7 votes to 9). Written evidence reported to the House.

Clause 2, discussed with new clause 5 (Parliamentary scrutiny of free trade agreements before signature), new clause 6 (Sustainability impact assessments), new clause 7 (Parliamentary consent to launch of trade negotiations), new clause 8 (Availability of agreement texts), new clause 19 (Report on proposed free trade agreement), new clause 20...

Clause 42 agreed to. New clause 2 (Needs assessment prior to each reset), discussed with new clause 3 (Local Authority Needs Commission) and new schedule 1 (Local Authority Needs Commission - further provision), debated and withdrawn. New clause 3 negatived on division (6 votes to 9). New clause 4 (Relief for schools and hospitals), discussed with new clause 8 (Relief for public buildings) and new clause 9 (Relief for licensed markets), debated and withdrawn. New clause 7 (Duty to ensure no loss of funding following withdrawal from the European Union) debated and withdrawn. New clause 10 (Non-domestic rating: exemption for nursery grounds) debated and withdrawn. New clause 11 (Power to remove or reduce mandatory reliefs in cases of business rates avoidance) debated and withdrawn. New clause 12 (Removal of provision for referendums relating to council tax increase in England) debated and withdrawn. New clause 13 (Power to impose a charge for business rate appeals) debated and withdrawn. Written evidence reported to the House. Bill, as amended, to be reported (Bill 142).

Clause 42 agreed to. New clause 2 (Needs assessment prior to each reset), discussed with new clause 3 (Local Authority Needs Commission) and new schedule 1 (Local Authority Needs Commission - further provision), debated and withdrawn. New clause 3 negatived on division (6 votes to 9). New clause 4 (Relief...

Clauses 37 to 41 agreed to. Schedule 5 agreed to. Amendment 54 to clause 42 negatived on division (5 votes to 8). Clause 42 under consideration.

Clauses 37 to 41 agreed to. Schedule 5 agreed to. Amendment 54 to clause 42 negatived on division (5 votes to 8). Clause 42 under consideration.

Clause 6 under consideration.

Clause 6 under consideration.

Clauses 6 to 36 agreed to, with clauses 7, 10, 11 and 12 agreed to as amended. Schedules 2 to 4 agreed to, with schedule 3 agreed to as amended. Amendment 48 to schedule 2 negatived on division (5 votes to 7). Amendment 29 to clause 16 negatived on division (4 votes to 7). Written evidence reported to the House.

Clauses 6 to 36 agreed to, with clauses 7, 10, 11 and 12 agreed to as amended. Schedules 2 to 4 agreed to, with schedule 3 agreed to as amended. Amendment 48 to schedule 2 negatived on division (5 votes to 7). Amendment 29 to clause 16 negatived on division...

Schedule 1 under consideration.

Schedule 1 under consideration.

Amendment 31 to schedule 1 negatived on division (6 votes to 9). Amendment 26 to schedule 1 negatived on division (6 votes to 9). Amendment 47 to schedule 1 negatived on division (6 votes to 9). Schedule 1 agreed to. Clauses 2 to 5 agreed to. Clause 2 discussed with new clause 5 (Appeals by public bodies) and new clause 6 (Backdating of appeals). Amendment 21 to clause 4 negatived on division (6 votes to 9). Written evidence reported to the House.

Amendment 31 to schedule 1 negatived on division (6 votes to 9). Amendment 26 to schedule 1 negatived on division (6 votes to 9). Amendment 47 to schedule 1 negatived on division (6 votes to 9). Schedule 1 agreed to. Clauses 2 to 5 agreed to. Clause 2 discussed with...

Clause 1 agreed to. Amendment 2 to clause 1 negatived on division (4 votes to 9).

Clause 1 agreed to. Amendment 2 to clause 1 negatived on division (4 votes to 9).

Clause 1 under consideration.

Clause 1 under consideration.

Programme motion agreed to. Written evidence (Reporting to the House) motion agreed to. Motion to sit in private agreed to. Examination of witnesses.

Programme motion agreed to. Written evidence (Reporting to the House) motion agreed to. Motion to sit in private agreed to. Examination of witnesses.

Examination of witnesses.

Examination of witnesses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many meetings have taken place between his Department and its predecessor and the Scottish Executive's (a) Enterprise, Energy and Tourism Directorate and (b) Marine Directorate since May regarding the devolution of further powers for the Scottish Parliament...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many meetings have taken place between his Department and its predecessor and the Scottish Executive's (a) Enterprise, Energy and Tourism Directorate and (b) Marine Directorate since May regarding the devolution of further powers for the Scottish Parliament...

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many inter-ministerial meetings his Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999; and what the (a) Scottish Executive department concerned, (b) subject and (c) date was in each case.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many inter-ministerial meetings his Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999; and what the (a) Scottish Executive department concerned, (b) subject and (c) date was in each case.