Autumn Conference Agenda Birmingham 17th - 21st September 2011 Plain Text Version In Government On Your Side This plain text document contains the text from the published Conference Agenda. Photographs, graphics and complex page layouts have been omitted. Note that page number cross references refer to the page numbers in the published Agenda, and are not applicable to this plain text version; and the motions in the Agenda section do not have line numbers (changing the type size alters page position and line numbering). A clear print version of the Agenda is available that does have correct page number cross references and motion line numbers that correspond with those in the standard printed and PDF Agenda. Published by The Conference Office, Liberal Democrats, 4 Cowley Street, London, SW1P 3NB. Design and layout by Mike Cooper, mike@mikecoopermcc.co.uk Introduction It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Liberal Democrat autumn conference 2011. Following a successful visit to Birmingham for a spring conference we have decided to return here for our autumn conference. Although there are various changes since we came here last (not least being in government) I am sure that the one thing that will not change is the fantastic welcome Birmingham gave us. Our agenda for this conference includes a good mix of policy motions and papers, set-piece speeches, presentations and Q&A sessions. We have allowed plenty of time for those attending conference to question Government Ministers as well as the Deputy Prime Minister, something you will not see the other political parties do. The way we develop policy and question our MPs and Ministers makes us the only truly democratic political party, something we should shout about! I look forward to seeing you all in Birmingham. Andrew Wiseman Chair, Federal Conference Committee Contents Feature: 3-4 500 days of delivery by Nick Clegg MP 3 Auditorium information 5-11 Agenda: 12-57 Agenda index 12 Saturday 17th September 13 Sunday 18th September 18 Monday 19th September 27 Tuesday 20th September 38 Wednesday 21st September 50 Standing orders 58-65 Federal Party 65 For further feature articles, general conference information, exhibition and fringe, see the separate Conference Directory. For conference details and registration online: www.libdems.org.uk/conference Conference Rally In Government On Your Side Delivering A Fairer Britain Co-hosted by our Scottish and Welsh leaders, Willie Rennie and Kirsty Williams. With Nick Clegg, Alistair Carmichael, Sarah Teather, Don Foster and David Heath. Highlighting how Liberal Democrats in government are making Britain a fairer, greener and more liberal country. Saturday 17th September 6.30pm - 7.30pm In the main auditorium ICC Birmingham Conference photo pass required for entry www.libdems.org.uk/conference Visit Us Online! The conference pages of the party website contain all you need to know about conference - and will give you the most up-to-date information and any last-minute changes. Visit: www.libdems.org.uk/conference. The Federal Conference Committee Is Here To Serve You! Andrew Wiseman, Chair; Sal Brinton, Vice Chair; Geoff Payne, Vice Chair, English rep; Robert Adamson; Qassim Afzal; Jon Ball; Lucy Care, FPC rep; Dee Doocey; Susan Gaszczak; Arnie Gibbons; Sandra Gidley; James Gurling FE rep; Jeremy Hargreaves, FPC rep; Linda Jack; Jenni Lang, Scottish rep; Chris Maines; Justine McGuinness; Joanna Shaw, FE rep; Ian Walton, Welsh rep; Adrian Beavis, Chief Steward, co-opted. (The published Agenda contains photographs of the above FCC members.) Ex officio: Alistair Carmichael MP, Chief Whip; Tim Farron MP, Party President; Chris Fox, Chief Executive (non-voting). 500 Days Of Delivery by Nick Clegg MP Welcome to Birmingham. We've been in government in Westminster for 500 days: 500 days of delivery. Liberal principles underpinning Liberal Democrat policies in national government. According to the BBC, we are implementing 75% of our Manifesto commitments - our policies put onto the statute book, making a difference to people's lives up and down the country. So what we debate here at conference matters more than ever. A shining example of that are the NHS reforms. At our spring conference in Sheffield earlier this year we agreed that reforms to the NHS were greatly needed - but that they should be reforms that aligned more closely with party policy. So Liberal Democrats in government have ruled out price competition, made the NHS safe from any threat of backdoor privatisation, and ensured that decisions in the NHS are taken in an open, democratic and accountable manner. This is both a powerful demonstration of the difference Liberal Democrats are making in government and a strong endorsement of our party's proud democratic traditions and institutions. Across government, long-held Liberal Democrat ideas are now being put into practice - from ending child detention for immigration purposes to increased investment in mental health provision; from setting up a Green Investment Bank to delivering the pupil premium in our schools; and from the general power of competence in the Localism Bill to the strengthened devolution of the Scotland Bill. We have fundamentally changed the tax system for the better, with a tax cut for millions of low- and middle-income earners paid for with capital gains tax increases and a clamp down on tax evasion. At the same time we are getting the big, difficult decisions right; governing as a part of a coalition in the national interest, and tackling the disastrous economic legacy Labour left behind. Cutting public spending requires tough choices. It certainly isn't what I and other Liberal Democrat Ministers came into politics to do. But it is only by having Liberal Democrats in government that can we ensure it is done as fairly as possible. Our voice in government must be loud and clear. Our challenge as a party is to ensure that the voters know what we have achieved. This conference gives us a perfect opportunity to do just that. I look forward to our debates and discussions over the course of conference. I know that we will have many passionate debates about the policies and direction of our party and the government. That is as it should be; that is what Liberal Democrat conference is all about. The Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP is Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister Auditorium Information Everything you need to know concerning the main conference sessions at this year's autumn conference is listed below in alphabetical order. The main conference sessions take place in the auditorium in Hall 3 of The ICC - see map of Birmingham city centre and venue plan printed in the separate Conference Directory. For general conference information, see the Conference Directory. If you have any questions on-site, please ask a steward or go to the Information Desk in the Upper Foyer at the top of the escalators in The ICC. Access Access to all areas of The ICC is possible only with a valid, visible conference photo pass worn with the official lanyard. You will be asked to show your pass when you enter The ICC and you are required to wear the pass with the lanyard visible at all times within the building. Please allow time for security check queues at The ICC during key times - particularly after lunch and ahead of popular events. Amendments To Motions All motions are open to amendment. Amendments must be signed by 10 voting representatives, or submitted by local parties, State Parties, Regional Parties in England, Federal Specified Associated Organisations or Federal Party Committees. The deadline for amendments is 13.00 Monday 5th September; they should be sent to the Policy Unit, preferably by email to motions@libdems.org.uk, or by post to 4 Cowley Street, London SW1P 3NB. (Post will automatically be redirected if Lib Dem HQ moves premises in the meantime.) Please download a form from the conference papers page at www.libdems.org.uk/AutumnConferencePapers. Those submitting amendments are encouraged to include a short explanation of the intended effect of the amendment. You are also encouraged to use our drafting advisory service; the deadline for draft amendments is 13.00 Monday 22nd August, to be sent to motionsadvice@libdems.org.uk. All amendments accepted for debate will be printed in Conference Extra - see page 6. Appeals Appeals against non-acceptance of motions should: a) be typed clearly on one side of an A4 sheet; b) give a contact name and telephone number; c) include a copy of the original motion to which they relate; and d) specify the justification for the appeal and provide new information of which the Federal Conference Committee was unaware when it made its original decision. Appeals must be signed by ten voting representatives, or submitted by local parties, State Parties, Regional Parties in England, Federal Specified Associated Organisations or Federal Party Committees. The deadline for appeals is 13.00 Monday 5th September; they should be sent to the Policy Unit, preferably by email to motions@libdems.org.uk, or by post to 4 Cowley Street, London SW1P 3NB. (Post will automatically be redirected if Lib Dem HQ moves premises in the meantime.) Applicability Of Motions The Federal Conference makes policy for the Federal Party. However, the English Party has 'passed up' responsibility for policy-making to the Federal Party in all areas and the Welsh Party for some areas. The applicability of each motion is shown after the text of the motion in the Agenda on pages 12-57. Auditorium The main conference sessions will take place in the auditorium in Hall 3 of The ICC. See the Conference Directory for a plan of the venue. The Speakers' Table is located at the front of the auditorium. Sign language interpretation will be provided during all sessions held in the auditorium. Please be mindful of not obstructing sightlines to the signers when moving around the auditorium. An induction loop is available in specific seating areas within the auditorium. Please ask a steward to direct you to these seats. For representatives who would benefit from being closer to the stage due to a visual impairment, a small number of seats are reserved at the front of the auditorium. If you have any specific seating requirements in the auditorium, please approach an auditorium steward who will endeavour to help. Please ensure that all mobile phones / pagers are switched off before entering the auditorium. Conference Extra And Conference Daily Conference Extra will give any changes to the timings of conference sessions that are shown in the Agenda on pages 12-57, and will contain amendments to motions, topical issues, emergency motions for debate or the ballot and questions to reports, plus last-minute changes to the order of business, movers etc. Conference Extra will be available to view online at www.libdems.org.uk/AutumnConferencePapers from Tuesday 13th September. Conference Daily will be published each day at conference and will include last-minute changes to the order of business, movers, amendments, emergency motions, etc. Please make sure you collect your copy each day, as the information it contains will always be vital to understanding the day's business. Conference Extra and Conference Daily will be available at the start of each morning session from the Information Desk in the Upper Foyer of The ICC. You can place an advert in Conference Daily to give up-to-date information about your organisation or event to conference-goers. For more information on advance booking prices and the booking form please see www.libdems.org.uk/advertising.aspx. Alternatively you can collect a booking form at the Information Desk on-site. The booking and copy deadlines for on-site bookings is 12 noon the day before you want your advert to appear. Consultative Sessions Consultative sessions take place in the Hyatt Hotel on Saturday 17th September between 10.00 and 12.30. See page 13 for details. Disabled Access And Facilities All areas of The ICC are accessible to wheelchair users via ramps or lifts and there are unisex wheelchair-accessible toilets on all floors. See also auditorium above. See disabled access and facilities in the separate Conference Directory for further information. Emergency Motions The slot at F48 is reserved for emergency motions or topical issues (see also topical issues on page 11). F22 is reserved for an emergency motion on phone hacking. Emergency motion debates are debates with a vote, which make formal party policy like any other policy motion, but which refer to a development since the 29th June deadline for motions. Emergency motions must be signed by 10 voting representatives, or submitted by local parties, State Parties, Regional Parties in England, Federal Specified Associated Organisations or Federal Party Committees. The deadline for emergency motions is 13.00 on Monday 5th September. Emergency motions should be sent to the Policy Unit, preferably by email to motions@libdems.org.uk, or by post to 4 Cowley Street, London SW1P 3NB. (Post will automatically be redirected if Lib Dem HQ moves premises in the meantime.) Please download a form from the conference papers page at www.libdems.org.uk/AutumnConferencePapers. Those submitting emergency motions are encouraged to include a short explanation of the emergency nature of the motion. You are also encouraged to use our drafting advisory service. The deadline for draft emergency motions is 13.00 Monday 22nd August and they should be sent to motionsadvice@libdems.org.uk. Emergency motions may be the subject of priority ballots among voting representatives. Ballot papers and the ballot box will be available at the Speakers' Table in the auditorium. The poll will be held, if necessary, between 09.00 and 13.00 on Sunday 18th September. If there is a simple choice between two motions, a card vote will be held in the auditorium at 10.55 on Sunday 18th September. Emergency motions accepted for debate or ballot will be detailed in Conference Extra - see page 6. Flash Photography Representatives vulnerable to epilepsy should note that flash photography is frequently used in the conference auditorium. Interventions There will be interventions during debates F20, F24, F28 and F40. This procedure offers voting or non-voting representatives the opportunity to make concise (one-minute) speeches from the floor during the debate on the motion. Eligibility to make an intervention is the same as for making a speech (see speaking at conference on page 8). Those wishing to speak during interventions should complete the form available from a steward in the auditorium. Speakers will be chosen by the chair by a random ballot and called to the intervention microphone on the auditorium floor. Three lights will be visible on either side of the stage: the green light comes on at the start of the intervention; the amber light will show after 40 seconds; the red light will come on at the end of one minute and the intervention must stop immediately. Question And Answer Sessions This year's conference features four Q&A sessions, with the party leader (F27), on social mobility (F18), on the NHS (F36) and on international affairs (F46). Any voting or non-voting representative may submit a concise question (maximum 25 words) to any of these sessions and, if selected by the chair of the session, will be asked to put the question from one of the intervention microphones in the auditorium. Questions may be submitted using a form which should be collected from and returned to the Speakers' Table in the auditorium up until shortly before each session (see the Agenda on pages 12-57 for times). Questions may also be emailed to questions@libdems.org.uk up until 17.00 on Thursday 15th September. Questions To Reports Any voting representative can submit a question to any of the reports of the Federal Committees and the Parliamentary Parties, included in the separate reports document. The chair will select which questions will be asked during the session. The deadline for questions to the reports of Federal Committees is 13.00 Monday 5th September. Questions should be sent to the Policy Unit, preferably by email to questions@libdems.org.uk, or by post to 4 Cowley Street, London SW1P 3NB. (Post will automatically be redirected if Lib Dem HQ moves premises in the meantime). Please download a form from the conference papers page at www.libdems.org.uk/AutumnConferencePapers. Questions will be printed in Conference Extra - see page 6. Questions on events occurring after the deadline may be submitted at the Speakers' Table in the auditorium on speaker's cards up until one hour before the start of the session. Each of the reports of the Parliamentary Parties will be moved briefly, and voted on at the end of the session. During the session, any voting representative can submit a question on any aspect of Liberal Democrat activities in the Westminster or European Parliaments (maximum 25 words), on a form collected from and returned to the Speakers' Table by 18.00 on Saturday 18th September. Questions may also be emailed to questions@libdems.org.uk up until 17.00 on Thursday 16th September. Separate Votes Requests for separate votes on parts of motions may be submitted by any voting representative. Requests for separate votes must be submitted in writing to the Speakers' Table in the auditorium, by the commencement of the first conference session on the day before the debate is scheduled, or, for debates scheduled for the first day of conference, by 13.00 Monday 5th September to the Policy Unit, preferably by email to motions@libdems.org.uk, or by post to 4 Cowley Street, London SW1P 3NB. (Post will automatically be redirected if Lib Dem HQ moves premises in the meantime.) Speaking At Conference Only three categories of people are entitled to speak in a debate at conference: l Voting representatives (or substitutes), elected by their local parties or appointed ex-officio (e.g. MPs, PPCs, council group leaders, etc.), who have paid the full registration fee for conference. l Non-voting representatives who have paid the full registration fee for the conference (this does not include day visitors). l Persons who have been given permission to speak by the Federal Conference Committee. No other person may be called to speak in debates, including during interventions. Anyone who is entitled and wishes to speak must complete a speaker's card to speak in the debate. Speaker's cards can be obtained from the steward overseeing the block of seats in the auditorium in which you are sitting, from the Information Desk in The ICC from 13.00 on Saturday and from the foyer of the Hyatt Hotel from Friday evening. You must complete all sections of the speaker's card legibly. Hand the completed card to a steward in the auditorium before the beginning of the morning or afternoon in which the debate occurs. If this is not possible, hand it in well in advance of the debate. Lengths of speeches for each debate are shown after each motion in the Agenda on pages 12-57. The speaker's rostrum in the auditorium has three lights. The green light is switched on at the beginning of the speech. The amber light is switched on 60 seconds before the end of the speech. The red light is switched on when all the time is used up, and speeches must stop immediately. Duplicate lights will be visible to the audience on either side of the stage. Topical Issues The slot at F48 has been reserved for topical issues or emergency motions (see also emergency motions on page 7). Topical issue discussions, unlike other debates at conference, will not make party policy, but are intended to allow representatives and spokespeople an opportunity to discuss and comment on a political issue live at the time of conference, but where it might be premature to move to formal policy-making. Suggestions for topical issues may be submitted by any voting representative, and should be emailed to motions@libdems.org.uk by 13.00 on Monday 5th September. Emails should include full contact details of the submitter and may include up to 100 words explanatory background. The title of the issue should be no more than ten words, and should not include an expression of opinion. For example, 'The Chaos on the Railways' would be acceptable, 'The Chaos on the Railways can be solved by Renationalisation' would not. The topical issue to be discussed is chosen by officers of the Federal Conference Committee and Federal Policy Committee and will be detailed in Conference Extra - see page 6. The person submitting an issue that has been chosen will be expected to speak for five minutes to introduce the discussion. The relevant Parliamentary spokesperson will be invited to respond. At the end of the debate a member of the Federal Policy Committee will sum up the main points and suggest any further actions. Twitter During conference week, we will be tweeting live from the auditorium. For updates on who's speaking, when agenda items are about to start and how conference has voted, follow us at: www.twitter.com/LibDemConf Voting Status and Voting / Non-Voting Photo Passes You will only be able to register as a voting representative if the Party's Membership Department has: 1 already received written notification from an elected officer of your local party that you have been elected as a voting representative; or 2 already received written notification from an officer of your local party that you are a substitute elected by your local party Executive after a voting representative has informed them that s/he is unable to attend. For a voting photo pass to be sent out before conference this information must have been received by Monday 1st August. Otherwise you will be sent a non-voting photo pass. If you have received a non-voting photo pass and believe you are a voting representative, you need to get an officer of your local party to inform Membership Services (see below) in writing of the elected representatives of your local party. Your voting status cannot be changed over the phone. If you are attending conference as a substitute voting representative, you need to get an officer of your local party to write to Membership Services (see below) with the name, address and membership number of the representative you are substituting for, as well as your own full details, before 13.00 Monday 1st August. Write to: Membership Services, 4 Cowley Street, London, SW1P 3NB (post will automatically be redirected if Lib Dem HQ moves premises in the meantime), or email membership@libdems.org.uk. Website For conference details online, please see: www.libdems.org.uk/AutumnConference Services For The Blind And Visually Impaired A range of electronic versions of the Conference Agenda and Directory, Training Schedule and policy and consultation papers are available for download online. These include PDF files, plain text files for blind computer users and clear print versions (designed in line with RNIB guidelines). Download from the conference papers page at: www.libdems.org.uk/AutumnConferencePapers If you are unable to access the Internet and would like any files emailed or posted to you, contact the Conference Office on 020 7227 1350 or at conferences@libdems.org.uk For clear print copies of any papers whilst at conference (e.g. Conference Daily), ask at the Information Desk. Speaking In Conference Debates Debates are the heart of federal conference: they're where the party sets its policy and decides its future direction. Unlike in the other parties, the Liberal Democrat conference is sovereign, and what it decides really matters. Any party member can speak in debates: all you need is to be registered as either a voting or a non-voting representative. Then fill in and submit a speaker's card and wait to see if you're called in the debate. Speaker's cards are available from the Speakers' Table and from the stewards in the auditorium. They can also be collected from the Information Desk in The ICC or the foyer of the Hyatt Hotel. There are three key points to remember to maximise your chances of being called: 1 submit your card well in advance If you hand your card in late, in a popular debate you're virtually guaranteeing you won't be called. The chair and aide team for the debate always meet well in advance to plan the debate - sometimes the previous day. 2 fill in your card completely The second major mistake potential speakers make is not to fill in their card completely. As well as the information on the front of the card (name, local party, for or against the motion, etc.), there are two sections on the back, for relevant background (professional or consumer experience, party background, etc.) and for a brief outline of what your speech is going to be about. These sections are needed for the chair and aide to balance the debate - to make sure that people with relevant experience are called (not necessarily to the exclusion of others, but professional or user backgrounds are always valuable), and to make sure that they don't call a whole string of people who'll make the same point. 3 make sure it's readable! Don't take this as an invitation to fill every square centimetre of the card; and don't write illegibly, or in very small letters, or in green ink ... the easier you make it for the chair and aide to read your card the more likely you will be to be called. The Order Of Debate At Conference Policy and business motions: generally, conference will consider a motion in the following way: Proposer of the motion speaks V Proposers of any amendments speak in turn V Speakers will then be called on all sides of the debate with the chair seeking to ensure balance Interventions will be taken (if listed on the agenda) V Summators of the amendments will speak in turn V The Summator of the motion will speak V The chair will take votes on the amendments and separate votes (if any) in turn - for and against V A vote will be taken on the motion as a whole Voting: decisions on the motion, on amendments and separate votes are by simple majority of those voting. Separate vote: any voting representative can submit a request for a separate vote - for procedure and deadlines see page 8. When a separate vote is taken, the chair shall ask conference to vote on whether to delete or retain the specified words or section. Counted vote: the chair of the session may decide that a vote is so close that it needs to be counted. Alternatively, if any voting representative wants a counted vote, they may request one from the floor; if fifty other voting representatives stand and show their voting cards in support, a count will be taken. Procedural motions concern the procedure by which conference operates. They are: l Reference back (to stop debate and send the motion to a specified body for more work); l Next business (to stop debate and move to the next item of business on the agenda); l Suspension of standing orders (to lift one or more of the rules governing the operation of conference). They may be submitted by voting representatives in writing at the Speakers' Table together with a statement of reasons of 75 words or less. They generally work in the following way (there are some exceptions - see Standing Orders on page 58 for specific guidance): The chair reads out the statement in support of the motion, submitted in advance V A vote will be taken on whether there will be a mini-debate on the motion V The mover of the motion may speak V Someone to oppose the motion may speak (the standing orders generally set out who that is) V Other speaker may be taken (this is not common) V Conference votes on the motion Voting: decisions on procedural motions are made by simple majority of those voting, except for the suspension of standing orders, which requires the support of two-thirds of those voting. Agenda Index Saturday 17th September Consultative Sessions: 13 Local Government Finance May 2011 Elections Mid-Term Review F1 Formal Opening of the Federal Conference by Cllr Paul Tilsley MBE 14 F2 Report: Federal Conference Committee 14 F3 Report: Federal Policy Committee 14 F4 Policy Motion: Lords Elections by 2015 14 F5 Speech: Lynne Featherstone MP 16 F6 Policy Motion: Employment and Support Allowance and Work Capability Assessments 16 F7 Report: Federal Executive 17 F8 Report: Federal Finance and Administration Committee 17 Sunday 18th September F9 Party Business: Accreditation for Party Conference 18 F10 Report: Campaign for Gender Balance 19 F11 Report: Diversity Engagement Group 19 F12 Reports: Parliamentary Parties of the Liberal Democrats 19 F13 Presentation: Liberal Democrat Group on London Borough of Sutton 20 F14 Speech: Sarah Teather MP 20 F15 Policy Motion: Higher Education Fees for Part-Time Students 20 F16 Speech: Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP 21 F17 Policy Motion: Education Credit 22 F18 Q&A Session: Social Mobility 24 F19 Speech: Tim Farron MP 24 F20 Policy Motion: Protecting Individuals and Communities from Drug Harms 24 Monday 19th September F21 Party Business: Membership Subscriptions and Federal Levy 27 F22 Emergency Motion: Phone Hacking 28 F23 Speech: Edward Davey MP 28 F24 Policy Motion: Facing the Future (Policy Development Agenda Policy Paper) 28 F25 Speech: Rt Hon Dr Vincent Cable MP 30 F26 Policy Motion: Tackling Violence Against Women 30 F27 Q&A Session: Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP 32 F28 Policy Motion: Preparing the Ground: Stimulating Growth in the Digital Economy (Information Technology Policy Paper) 33 F29 Speech: Norman Baker MP 35 F30 Party Business: Recognition of Specified Associated Organisations and Associated Organisations 35 Tuesday 20th September F31 Standing Order Amendment: Emergency Motions 38 F32 Constitutional Amendment: Federal Appeals Panel 38 F33 Policy Motion: Science Not Stigma: Ending the Blood Ban 39 F34 Policy Motion: Adult Social Care 41 F35 Speech: Steve Webb MP 42 F36 Q&A Session: NHS Reform Report Back 42 F37 Speech: Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP 43 F38 Policy Motion: A Green Stimulus for Economic Recovery 43 F39 Speech: Andrew Stunell MP 44 F40 Policy Motion: A New Purpose for Politics: Quality of Life (Quality of Life Policy Paper) 45 F41 Party Business: Community Politics 47 Wednesday 21st September F42 Party Business: Interim Peer Election Regulations 50 F43 Party Business: Federal Committee Election Regulations 53 F44 Policy Motion: The Arab Awakening 54 F45 Speech: Rt Hon Michael Moore MP 56 F46 Q&A Session: International Issues 56 F47 Speech: Kirsty Williams AM 56 F48 Emergency Motion Or Topical Issue 57 F49 Party Awards 57 F50 Appeal 57 F51 Speech: Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister 57 Saturday 17th September 10.00 Consultative Sessions -12.30 Local Government Finance Allegro, Hyatt Hotel Chair: Cllr Chris White Rapporteur: To be announced May 2011 Elections Andante, Hyatt Hotel Chair: James Gurling (Chair, Campaigns and Communications Committee) Rapporteur: Tom Smithard Mid-Term Review Sonata, Hyatt Hotel Chair: Norman Lamb MP (Chair, Federal Policy Committee) Rapporteur: Polly Mackenzie Consultative sessions provide a less formal mechanism than the full-scale conference debates for conference representatives and other Party members to participate in the party's policy- and decision-making process. Each session examines a particular topic and hears contributions from party members and in some cases outside speakers. The sessions will be organised by the relevant Policy Working Group or other party body. Where appropriate, the conclusions of the sessions will be taken into account by the groups when drawing up their final policy papers. Consultative papers for the sessions will be included with the Directory mailing. 14.30 Party Business Chair: Tim Farron MP (President of the Liberal Democrats) Aide: Geoff Payne (Vice Chair, Federal Conference Committee) F1 Formal Opening of the Federal Conference by Cllr Paul Tilsley MBE, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council and Liberal Democrat Group Leader 14.40 Party Business Chair: Cllr Alan Sherwell Aide: James Gurling (Chair, Campaigns and Communications Committee) F2 Report of the Federal Conference Committee Mover: Andrew Wiseman (Chair, Federal Conference Committee) The deadline for questions to this report is 13.00, Monday 5th September, to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'questions to reports' on page 8. Questions selected will be printed in Conference Extra. Questions on events occurring after the deadline may be submitted at the Speakers' Table on speaker's cards up until 13.40 on Saturday 17th September. F3 Report of the Federal Policy Committee Mover: Norman Lamb MP (Chair, Federal Policy Committee) The deadline for questions to this report is 13.00, Monday 5th September, to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'questions to reports' on page 8. Questions selected will be printed in Conference Extra. Questions on events occurring after the deadline may be submitted at the Speakers' Table on speaker's cards up until 13.40 on Saturday 17th September. 15.10 Policy Motion Chair: Cllr Chris Maines Aide: Baroness Doocey AM (London) F4 Lords Elections by 2015 22 conference representatives and Islington Mover: Lord Tyler Summation: Mark Pack Conference notes: i) The commitment of Asquith's Liberal Government in the 1911 Parliament Act to "substitute for the House of Lords as it at present exists a Second Chamber constituted on a popular instead of hereditary basis" but that "such substitution [could not] be immediately brought into operation". ii) The commitments of all three major UK parties in their 2010 manifestos to complete comprehensive reform of the House of Lords. iii) Labour's three previous manifesto commitments to Lords reform in 1997, 2001 and 2005. iv) The longstanding policies of the Liberal Democrats, and of our predecessor parties, in favour of a wholly or mainly elected Lords, demonstrated in repeated manifesto commitments. v) That the Coalition Government is the first to honour its manifesto pledges on House of Lords reform by publishing a draft Bill and White Paper to bring democracy to the second chamber of Parliament. Conference congratulates Nick Clegg and David Cameron for making a joint commitment to elections in 2015, after 13 years of Labour dithering and failure. Conference condemns Labour's divided, opportunistic and hypocritical response. Conference believes that the White Paper proposals: a) Will ensure neither heredity nor patronage determines who sits in Parliament. b) Retain the primacy of the House of Commons by leaving the Parliament Acts in place. c) Retain the best of the existing House's independent spirit and long-term thinking while allowing the public to choose those who legislate on their behalf. d) Will strengthen Parliament as a whole in its ability to check the power of the Executive. Conference further believes that the Joint Committee on Lords Reform will need particularly to examine the issues of: 1. Gender balance and diversity in the new chamber. 2. The size of the House, the likely workload of its members, and its working practices. 3. Which proportional electoral system to use. 4. Whether or not to retain a small appointed element. Conference welcomes the Joint Committee's commitment to constructive pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill and congratulates the Government on being the first to bring forward legislation after a century of broken promises by previous administrations. Conference reaffirms its commitment to longstanding party policy, and to repeated manifesto commitments, in favour of an elected House of Lords and calls on Parliament to ensure that legislation is in place to make Lords elections happen in 2015. Applicability: Federal. Mover of motion: 7 minutes; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion, and for requests for separate votes, is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5 and 'separate votes' on page 8. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. 15.55 Speech Chair: Jo Shaw Aide: Cllr Jon Ball F5 Speech by Lynne Featherstone MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Equalities and Criminal Information 16.15 Policy Motion Chair: Jenni Lang Aide: Arnie Gibbons F6 Employment and Support Allowance and Work Capability Assessments Liberal Youth Mover: George Potter Summation: To be announced Conference notes: i) That eligibility for the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) benefit is determined by the Work Capability Assessments (WCAs) which are currently carried out by Atos Healthcare, a private company. ii) That currently 70% of assessed rejections which go to appeal are subsequently overturned, though the appeal success rate is lower for claimants without representation. iii) That the way in which WCAs are conducted has been criticised by Parliamentary Inquiries and by the Tribunal Judiciary. iv) That the Liberal Democrat-Conservative Coalition Government has stated its aims to support people who are fit to work move off state benefits and into work and support those currently unable to work to prepare for work in the future. v) The on-going reviews of Work Capability Assessments led by Professor Malcolm Harrington, which have made recommendations on how the WCA process can be improved. vi) That the Government has so far implemented the vast majority of the recommendations made by Professor Malcolm Harrington. vii) The Government's Welfare Reform Bill proposals to simplify the appeals process for claimants. Conference believes that: A. It is the duty of a compassionate society and government to provide the necessary support for those who are unable to support themselves. B. The old Assessment procedure, when claimants were assessed using a 'tick box' questionnaire, did not take into account the claimant's medical history as provided by their GP and/or Consultant. C. The new Assessment procedure must aim to reduce the number of cases which are overturned on appeal. Conference calls for: 1. The Government to continue to implement Professor Harrington's recommendations on reforming the WCA as a priority, in addition to an emphasis on: a) Clearer Assessment criteria and descriptors, to make it more apparent under what circumstances ESA is paid. b) Ensuring greater accuracy in Assessment, particularly for those with fluctuating conditions. c) A less stressful Assessment process. d) People with disabilities getting the support they need. 2. Opposition to an arbitrary time limit on how long claimants can claim contributory ESA. 3. All ESA claimants going to appeal to be given access to adequate representation. Applicability: Federal. Mover of motion: 7 minutes; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion, and for requests for separate votes, is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5 and 'separate votes' on page 8. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. 17.00 Party Business Chair: Cllr Gareth Epps Aide: Susan Gaszczak F7 Report of the Federal Executive Mover: Tim Farron MP (President of the Liberal Democrats) The deadline for questions to this report is 13.00, Monday 5th September, to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'questions to reports' on page 8. Questions selected will be printed in Conference Extra. Questions on events occurring after the deadline may be submitted at the Speakers' Table on speaker's cards up until 16.00 on Saturday 17th September. F8 Report of the Federal Finance and Administration Committee Mover: Duncan Greenland (Chair, Federal Finance and Administration Committee) The deadline for questions to this report is 13.00, Monday 5th September, to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'questions to reports' on page 8. Questions selected will be printed in Conference Extra. Questions on events occurring after the deadline may be submitted at the Speakers' Table on speaker's cards up until 16.00 on Saturday 17th September. 17.20 Close Of Session Sunday 18th September 09.00 Party Business Chair: Baroness Barker Aide: Cllr Chris Maines F9 Accreditation for Party Conference Yeovil, Brent and 42 conference representatives Mover: Stephen Gilbert MP Summation: David Grace Conference accepts the need for physical security measures to protect those attending but does not accept that such measures can interfere with the democratic decision-making processes of a political party. Conference affirms that Liberal Democrats have always defended and promoted the fundamental rights of freedom of association and assembly, protected by Article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights, by Article 12 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and by Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Conference recalls that: a) The preamble to the party constitution states that "We will at all times defend the right to speak, write, worship, associate and vote freely...". b) The party's general election manifesto specifically proclaimed "The best way to combat terrorism is to prosecute terrorists, not give away hard-won British freedoms". Conference therefore condemns the system of police accreditation adopted for this conference which requires party members to disclose personal data to the police and which is designed to enable the police to advise that certain party members should not be allowed to attend. Conference therefore calls upon: 1. The Parliamentary Party and Liberal Democrat Ministers to question the current police guidance on accreditation and to seek to persuade the Home Office to change guidance on current practice to reflect the rights of association and assembly and the internal democracy of all political parties. 2. The Federal Conference Committee to negotiate security arrangements for future conferences which protect the privacy of members' personal data and which respect the party's constitution and internal democracy. 3. The Party President to ensure that conference arrangements respect Article 6 of the federal constitution which provides that Local Parties elect representatives and that no other body within or without the party has the power to exclude in advance their attendance at conference. Applicability: Federal. Mover of motion: 7 minutes; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion, is 12.00 noon, Monday 6th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 14.30, Saturday 17th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 09.45 Party Business Chair: Cllr Jon Ball Aide: Sandra Gidley F10 Report of the Campaign for Gender Balance Mover: Rosalyn Gordon (Chair, Campaign for Gender Balance) The deadline for questions to this report is 13.00, Monday 5th September, to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'questions to reports' on page 8. Questions selected will be detailed in Conference Extra. Questions on events occurring after the deadline may be submitted at the Speakers' Table on speaker's cards up until 17.45 on Saturday 17th September. F11 Report of the Diversity Engagement Group Mover: Baroness Brinton (Chair, Diversity Engagement Group) The deadline for questions to this report is 13.00, Monday 5th September, to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'questions to reports' on page 8. Questions selected will be printed in Conference Extra. Questions on events occurring after the deadline may be submitted at the Speakers' Table on speaker's cards up until 17.45 on Saturday 17th September. 10.00 Party Business Chair: Cllr Jon Ball Aide: Sandra Gidley F12 Reports of the Parliamentary Parties of the Liberal Democrats Commons: Alistair Carmichael MP (Chief Whip) and Lorely Burt MP (Chair, Parliamentary Party) Lords: Lord McNally (Leader) and Lord Shutt (Chief Whip) Europe: Fiona Hall MEP (Leader) and Chris Davies MEP (Chief Whip) Each of the reports will be moved briefly, and voted on at the end of the session, but the bulk of the session will be used to allow conference representatives to put questions on any aspect of Liberal Democrat activities in the Westminster and European Parliament to the panel. Conference representatives may submit concise questions (maximum 25 words) on a form collected from and submitted to the Speakers' Table by 18.00 on Saturday 17th September. Questions may also be emailed to questions@libdems.org.uk until 17.00 on Thursday 15th September. The chair will select which questions shall be asked during the session. See 'questions to reports' on page 8. 10.55 Presentation Chair: Linda Jack Aide: Justine McGuinness F13 Presentation by Liberal Democrat Group on London Borough of Sutton The presentation will by given by Cllr Sean Brennan, Council Leader, and other Sutton Borough Councillors. 11.15 Speech Chair: Robert Adamson Aide: Jenni Lang F14 Speech by Sarah Teather MP, Minister of State for Children and Families 11.35 Policy Motion Chair: Justine McGuinness Aide: Sandra Gidley F15 Higher Education Fees for Part-Time Students Watford Mover: Cllr Belinda Brooks Gordon Summation: Baroness Brinton Conference notes that: i) 40% of present undergraduates are part-time students and this may well increase with the introduction of the new student funding scheme from 2012. ii) Part-time students are more likely to come from the most non-traditional and hard-to-reach groups and are vital to achieving the Government's aim of widening participation at our universities. iii) Most part-time students study at their local university or further education college while living at home, and many continue working part-time (often on low incomes) during their courses. Conference welcomes the Coalition Government's proposals to extend the system of loans and financial support to part-time Higher Education students from 2012, recognising that: a) The previous Labour system discriminated against those who choose (through necessity or work or family commitments) to study part-time, having forced them to pay their fees up front. b) Under the new Government proposals, from 2012 part-time students will have equality with full-time students for financial support for fees for the first time. Conference notes the principle in the Coalition Government's higher education funding proposals that courses are free at the point of study, and that students are not expected to start to make contributions to re-pay their student debt until they finish their course. However, conference further notes with concern that: 1. The regulations propose that part-time students must start to repay their student debt three and a half years after the start of their course, when no part-time degree student will have completed their studies. This means that part-time students would be paying back their loan before they have finished studying. 2. By contrast, all full-time students on extended four year degrees will only have to repay after four and a half years. Conference therefore calls on the Government to review these proposals so that no part-time student is treated less fairly than a full-time student. Applicability: England. Mover of motion: 7 minutes; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 14.30, Saturday 17th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 12.20 Speech Chair: Lucy Care Aide: Jeremy Hargreaves (Vice Chair, Federal Policy Committee) F16 Speech by Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury 12.40 Lunch 14.30 Policy Motion Chair: Justine McGuinness Aide: Jo Shaw F17 Education Credit Ten conference representatives Mover: Baroness Walmsley (Co-Chair, Parliamentary Party Committee on Education and Families) Summation: James Kempton Conference believes that: i) No child's future should be determined by the circumstances of their birth. ii) Education is the main driver of social mobility and key to achieving a diverse and successful economy. iii) Government can best ensure that every child reaches their full potential through a holistic approach to welfare and education with continuity from early years through to employment. Conference welcomes: A. The Government's commitment to fairness in education and giving every child the best start in life. B. The Coalition Government's implementation of the Liberal Democrat Pupil Premium for children on Free School Meals, which will result in a total of œ2.5 billion extra for schools by 2014/15. C. The extension of 15 hours free early years provision to disadvantaged two-year-olds, as well as all three- and four-year-olds. D. The new powers for Academies to prioritise admissions to children on Free School Meals. Conference nevertheless notes that: I. More can be done to support disadvantaged pupils and their families. II. Up to 3% of children who are eligible for Free School Meals are not registered for this benefit for a variety of reasons including: the stigma surrounding Free School Meals; their families' travelling lifestyles; and a lack of implementation of existing 'good practice' to drive up registration. III. With the introduction of the Universal Credit, the criteria under which Free School Meals and the Pupil Premium are allocated will have to change. Conference therefore calls for: 1. The Government to adopt a new wrap-around package of support called the 'Education Credit'. 2. This package to support children and their families from the early years through to employment and to be 'joined up' across relevant departments of government. 3. All efforts to be made to utilise best practice to ensure that all those entitled to the benefits receive them. 4. Eligibility for this support to start at the income level used for calculating child poverty across government, and families not to lose the benefits all at once when their income rises. 5. As resources allow, the Education Credit package eligibility criteria to be expanded to include: a) All children up to the age of 19 who meet the existing eligibility criteria. b) All 'Looked After' children, regardless of their financial circumstances. 6. As resources allow, the Education Credit package to be expanded to ensure that all eligible children receive (in addition to the existing Free School Meals and extension of early years provision): a) 15 free hours of early years provision from the age of two. b) Free transport for all pupils and students below the age of 18 attending schools or colleges, in line with the provisions already in place in London. c) A free breakfast and midday meal if required. d) Face-to-face careers advice and assistance with a work experience placement. e) Support for the purchase of a computer and broadband access, with a maximum of three children per household per computer. f) The maximum musical instrument teaching eventually decided upon in the Government's response to the Henley Report. g) Access to the Healthy Child Programme and priority of access to locally delivered parental support programmes. 7. As resources allow, the Education Credit package to be expanded to ensure that all schools with a certain percentage of Education Credit children receive (in addition to the existing Pupil Premium): a) Parent Support Advisers so that local services utilise a holistic approach and all children get access to the best schools. b) Additional support for the music education programme in schools. 8. Charities that wish to support children on Education Credit with education enrichment activities to have priority from the Big Society Bank. 9. The Government's guidance to schools and colleges on how the Bursary Scheme will be allocated to highlight the need for preferential treatment for Education Credit students. Applicability: England. Mover of motion: 7 minutes; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 14.30, Saturday 17th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 15.30 Question And Answer Session Chair: Baroness Brinton (Vice Chair, Federal Conference Committee) Aide: Cllr Chris Maines F18 Question and Answer Session on Social Mobility Panellists will include: l Rt Hon Simon Hughes MP, Advocate for Access to Education l Baroness Hussein-Ece, Commissioner, Equality and Human Rights Commission l Sarah Teather MP, Minister of State for Children and Families l Steve Webb MP, Minister of State for Pensions A chance for conference representatives to put questions on any social mobility issue to a panel including party spokespeople and outside experts. Conference representatives may submit concise questions (maximum 25 words) on a form collected from and submitted to the Speakers' Table by 12.40 on Sunday 18th September. Questions may also be emailed to questions@libdems.org.uk until 17.00 on Thursday 15th September. The chair will select which questions shall be asked during the session. See 'questions and answer sessions' on page 7. 16.20 Speech Chair: Qassim Afzal Aide: Susan Gaszczak F19 Speech by Tim Farron MP, President of the Liberal Democrats 16.40 Policy Motion Chair: Andrew Wiseman (Chair, Federal Conference Committee) Aide: Baroness Doocey AM (London) F20 Protecting Individuals and Communities from Drug Harms Glasgow South, Liberal Youth and 23 conference representatives Mover: Ewan Hoyle Summation: Sir Graham Watson MEP Conference notes: I. That drugs are powerful substances which can have serious consequences for the individual user and society in general; and that it is therefore right and proper that the state should intervene to regulate and control the use of such substances as it does the consumption of legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco and both prescription and over-the-counter medicines. II. That the misuse of drugs can blight the lives of individuals and families and the purchase of illegal drugs can help to fuel organised crime. III. The need for evidence-based policy making on drugs with a clear focus on prevention and harm-reduction. IV. That there is increasing evidence that the UK's drugs policy is not only ineffective and not cost-effective but actually harmful, impacting particularly severely on the poor and marginalised. Conference further notes: i) The positive evidence from new approaches elsewhere, including Portuguese reforms that have been successful in reducing problematic drug use through decriminalising possession for personal use of all drugs and investing in treatment programmes. ii) That those countries and states that have decriminalised possession of some or all drugs have not seen increased use of those drugs relative to their neighbours. iii) That heroin maintenance clinics in Switzerland and the Netherlands have delivered great health benefits for addicts while delivering considerable reductions in drug-related crime and prevalence of heroin use. iv) The contribution of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to the 2010 Drug Strategy consultation which states that "people found to be in possession of drugs (any) for personal use (and involved in no other criminal offences) should not be processed through the criminal justice system but instead be diverted into drug education/awareness courses or possibly other, more creative civil punishment". v) The report of the Global Commission on Drug Policy whose members include former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, former heads of state of Colombia, Mexico, Brazil and Switzerland, the current Prime Minister of Greece, a former US Secretary of State and many other eminent world figures, which encouraged governments to consider the legal regulation of drugs in order to, "undermine the power of organised crime and safeguard the health and security of their citizens". vi) That the United Kingdom remains bound by various international conventions and that any re-negotiation or new agreements will require international co-ordination. Conference believes that: A. Individuals, especially young people, can be damaged both by the imposition of criminal records and by a drug habit, and that the priority for those addicted to all substances must be healthcare, education and rehabilitation, not punishment. B. Governments should reject policies if they are demonstrated to be ineffective in achieving their stated goals and should seek to learn from policies which have been successful. C. At a time when Home Office and Ministry of Justice spending is facing considerable contraction, there is a powerful case for examining whether an evidence-based policy would produce savings, allowing the quality of service provided by these departments to be maintained or to improve. D. One of the key barriers to developing better drugs policy has been the previous Labour Government's persistent refusal to take on board scientific advice, and the absence of an overall evaluative framework of the UK's drugs strategy. E. The Department of Health and devolved equivalents should take on a greater responsibility for dealing with drugs. Conference calls for: 1. The Government to immediately establish an independent panel tasked with carrying out an Impact Assessment of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, to properly evaluate, economically and scientifically, the present legal framework for dealing with drugs in the United Kingdom. 2. The panel also to consider reform of the law, based on the Portuguese model, such that: a) Possession of any controlled drug for personal use would not be a criminal offence. b) Possession would be prohibited but should cause police officers to issue citations for individuals to appear before panels tasked with determining appropriate education, health or social interventions. 3. The panel also to consider as an alternative, potential frameworks for a strictly controlled and regulated cannabis market and the potential impacts of such regulation on organised crime, and the health and safety of the public, especially children. 4. The reinvestment of any resources released into effective education, treatment and rehabilitation programmes. 5. The widespread provision of the highest quality evidence-based medical, psychological and social services for those affected by drugs problems; these services should include widespread availability of heroin maintenance clinics for the most problematic and vulnerable heroin users. Applicability: Federal, except 4 (lines 63-64), which is England and Wales, and E (lines 49-50) and 5 (lines 65-68) which are England only. Mover of motion: 7 minutes; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. In addition to speeches from the platform, it will be possible for conference representatives to make concise (maximum one-minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See 'interventions' on page 7. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 14.30, Saturday 17th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 18.00 Close of Session Monday 19th September 09.00 Party Business Chair: Arnie Gibbons Aide: Qassim Afzal F21 Membership Subscriptions and Federal Levy Federal Executive Mover: To be announced Summation: To be announced Conference notes that: a) The Federal Executive is proposing that there be no change in the Minimum, Concessionary, Youth and Student SAO or Freshers Fair subscription rates, and no change in the Federal Levy. b) The Federal Executive is proposing that the recommended rate should rise from œ60 to œ62. c) The proposed minimum rate, together with our concessionary rate of œ6 for those receiving or entitled to receive state benefits, maintains our position of offering access to the widest possible proportion of society. Conference resolves that for the year 2012: 1. The recommended subscription rate shall be œ62. 2. The minimum subscription rate shall be œ12. 3. The concessionary subscription rate for those in receipt of, or entitled to, state benefits other than child benefit or state pension shall be œ6. 4. Those paying their subscription through the Youth and Student SAO shall pay a minimum of œ6 or, where a new member joins at a Freshers' Fair event, a special introductory rate of œ1. 5. Nothing in this motion prevents a State Party from setting a recommended rate or rates of subscription by its internal procedures which is higher than that agreed by the Federal Conference. Conference further resolves that for the year 2012 the Federal Levy on new members shall be 0% of the subscription paid and the Federal Levy on renewal subscriptions shall be 44%. Applicability: Federal. Mover of motion: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00, Sunday 18th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 09.30 Emergency Motion Chair: James Gurling (Chair, Campaigns and Communications Committee) Aide: Geoff Payne (Vice Chair, Federal Conference Committee) F22 Emergency Motion: Phone Hacking This slot has been reserved for an emergency motion on the subject of the phone hacking scandal. The deadline for emergency motions is 13.00, Monday 5th September, to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'emergency motions' on page 7. The motion selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. Mover of motion: 7 minutes; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. 10.30 Speech Chair: Sandra Gidley Aide: Cllr Jon Ball F23 Speech by Edward Davey MP, Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs 10.50 Policy Motion Chair: Baroness Doocey AM (London) Aide: Andrew Wiseman (Chair, Federal Conference Committee) F24 Facing the Future (Policy Development Agenda Policy Paper) Federal Policy Committee Mover: Norman Lamb MP (Chair, Federal Policy Committee) Summation: To be announced Conference welcomes policy paper 100, Facing the Future, as a programme of policy development for the rest of this Parliament which is both optimistic and forward-looking, but also recognises the scale of the challenges we face, and which is inspired by our core values which put people first. Conference supports its re-affirmation of Liberal Democrat values and principles, with an emphasis on: A. Empowering individuals to make the best of their lives regardless of their social background. B. Supporting flourishing communities. C. The wider distribution of political, economic and social power. D. Championing the rule of law, civil liberties, and human rights. E. Challenging all forms of unfair discrimination. F. Sustainable development, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. G. The development of international co-operation and democratic institutions to spread and safeguard human rights, and to protect humanity from global threats. Conference acknowledges the major challenges facing Britain and the world and understands that this results in many people having fears and anxieties about the future, but also identifies the opportunities available to us in the coming years, and so recognises the need to: i) Rebuild the public finances and reduce unemployment while at the same time reforming the economy onto a more economically and environmentally sustainable basis. ii) Increase equality of opportunity and reverse trends towards greater inequality. iii) Give international leadership in tackling climate change and achieve more sustainable use of natural resources. iv) Reform our political institutions, re-engage the public with the democratic political process, and further devolve political power to nations and communities. v) Adapt Britain's foreign and defence policies to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing international landscape. vi) Address the needs of a growing and ageing population. vii) Reform the public services to help them to deliver high quality, responsive services fairly to the entire population. viii) Tackle crime, in particular the growing threat of internationally organised crime and electronic crime, while upholding vital civil liberties. Conference endorses the priority areas identified for policy development to provide us with a distinctive platform for the next General Election informed by our values, including: a) Taxation, including tax avoidance. b) Sustainable Sources of Growth and Jobs. c) Housing. d) Tackling Inequality. e) Supporting Working Families. f) Crime and Justice. g) Defence. h) Immigration and Identity. i) Public Services. j) The Challenges of an Ageing Population. k) Skills and Post-18 Education. l) The Transition to a Zero Carbon Britain. m) Sustainable Use of Natural Resources. n) Gender Equality. o) Political Reform and Participation. p) Europe. q) Mutualisation and Employee Ownership. Applicability: Federal, except c (line 38), i (line 44), and k (line 46) which are England only, and f (line 41) which is England and Wales. Mover and summation: 16 minutes combined; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. In addition to speeches from the platform, it will be possible for conference representatives to make concise (maximum one-minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See 'interventions' on page 7. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00, Sunday 18th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 12.20 Speech Chair: Jo Shaw Aide: Arnie Gibbons F25 Speech by Rt Hon Dr Vincent Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 12.40 Lunch 14.30 Policy Motion Chair: Baroness Brinton (Vice Chair, Federal Conference Committee) Aide: Linda Jack F26 Tackling Violence Against Women 15 conference representatives Mover: Rt Hon Tom Brake MP (Co-Chair, Parliamentary Party Committee on Home Affairs, Justice and Equalities) Summation: Baroness Hamwee (Co-Chair, Parliamentary Party Committee on Home Affairs, Justice and Equalities) Conference notes with concern that: I. Last year alone there were over one million female victims of domestic abuse in England and Wales. II. Only 10% of local authorities offer dedicated specialist services for Black and Minority Ethnic women, even though ethnic minority women are vulnerable to specific forms of violence such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage. III. 70% of women seeking asylum in the UK have suffered rape or other sexual violence. IV. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Children said with respect to the UK: "The state should always consider child victims of these criminal practices, including child prostitution, exclusively as victims in need of recovery and not as offenders". V. A Refuge study showed an alarming prevalence of attitudes that reinforce violence against women: for example, that over 75 per cent of 11-12 year olds thought it was acceptable for women to be hit if they make men angry. Conference believes that: i) Violence against women is a violation of human rights. ii) Violence against women is both a cause and a consequence of deep-rooted inequality between women and men. iii) All women have the right to live free from fear, abuse and exploitation. iv) While the Government's current efforts to end violence against women and girls are to be welcomed, there is still more than can be done. v) Any approach to tackling Violence Against Women must take a cross-governmental approach, ensuring that there is a focus on prevention; that victims are not blamed or criminalized; and that individuals are empowered to break free from abusive situations or relationships. Conference therefore welcomes: A. The launch of the Government's cross-department, strategic action plan, Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls, and in particular its statement that "our approach to tackling violence against women and girls is a test of this Government's capability to build a fairer society". B. The policies that have resulted from this action plan, including, amongst others, the œ28m stable funding the Home Office has committed for funding of specialist rape services over the next four years: providing more training and early intervention programmes, and better support for victims. C. The Government's decision to opt in to the European Union Directive on Human Trafficking, which significantly strengthens the assistance offered to victims of human trafficking and the ability of the UK to prosecute perpetrators, and also to the proposed EU European Protection Order which will enhance cross-border safety for domestic violence victims. D. The appointment of a Liberal Democrat Minister, Lynne Featherstone MP, as the Government's International Violence Against Women champion. Conference nevertheless calls on the Government to act further to achieve its objectives by: 1. Seeking to prevent violence happening in the first place through work towards culture change; using all means available to raise awareness of the issues including through the education of children in relationships and consent, and the training of teachers. 2. Protecting victims through: a) Ending the criminalisation of child prostitutes. b) Training agencies and border officials to identify vulnerable applicants and handle delicate cases, including recognising that the trauma suffered by victims may not immediately manifest itself, and that for some women and girls specialised support and time to recover are essential. c) Issuing guidance to prosecutors and judges to prevent women suffering from domestic violence, who have retracted their evidence against their partner because of fear and intimidation, from being prosecuted for false allegations. d) Enabling vulnerable families to stay together by implementing the Corston Recommendations, which would see a gradual closure of all women's prisons and their replacement with some small custodial units for serious and dangerous offenders, and, for most women offenders, a larger network of support and supervision centres in the community. 3. Empowering women through: a) Providing better and more supportive systems in schools and social services (such as health visitors and midwives) through which women and children can report abuse. b) Allowing those who have escaped abusive relationships and are living in refuges to continue to work and remain economically independent. c) Retaining services for ethnic minority women so that those who need culturally specific services feel able to ask for help. d) Requiring all licensed sex establishments to advertise a free-phone hotline, where clients could report concerns and victims could self-report. 4. Taking an international approach through working towards signing the Council of Europe Convention on Violence Against Women, which would will further strengthen our domestic efforts to combat violence against women. Applicability: England and Wales, except 3 a) (lines 59-60) and 3 c) (lines 6-64) which are England only, and A (lines 26-29), C and D (lines 34-39), 2 b) (lines 46-49), 3 b (lines 61-62), and 4 (lines 67-69) which are Federal. Mover of motion: 7 minutes; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00, Sunday 18th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 15.15 Question And Answer Session Chair: Andrew Wiseman (Chair, Federal Conference Committee) Aide: Jenni Lang F27 Question and Answer Session with Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister A chance for conference representatives to put questions, on any topic, to the leader of the Liberal Democrats in a 'Town Hall' style event. Conference representatives may submit concise questions (maximum 25 words) on a form collected from and submitted to the Speakers' Table by 12.40 on Monday 19th September. Questions may also be emailed to questions@libdems.org.uk until 17.00 on Thursday 15th September. See 'question and answer sessions' on page 7. 16.00 Policy Motion Chair: Baroness Doocey AM (London) Aide: James Gurling (Chair, Campaigns and Communications Committee) F28 Preparing the Ground: Stimulating Growth in the Digital Economy (Information Technology Policy Paper) Federal Policy Committee Mover: Dr Julian Huppert MP (Chair of the Policy Working Group) Summation: To be announced Conference believes that IT has the power to transform our society by empowering citizens, improving and extending services, and enabling innovation. Conference therefore endorses the proposals in policy paper 101, Preparing the Ground: Stimulating Growth in the Digital Economy, to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from the digital revolution by: A. Creating a fair environment for innovation and business. B. Improving digital inclusion and skill levels in the population and in government. C. Reducing regulation and red tape. D. Safeguarding the essential freedom of the internet, while ensuring the reasonable. E. Protection of individuals and businesses. Conference in particular welcomes the paper's proposals to: 1. Create a focus on growth in the creative industries by: Option A: a) Supporting the rights of creators to benefit from what they do and make. b) Targeting government policy at helping existing businesses grow and supporting innovative start-ups. c) Repealing sections 3-18 of the Digital Economy Act, which lack a robust evidence base and democratic legitimacy. d) Setting up an independent review of the true impact of file-sharing on the creative industries to establish more clearly the relationship between illegal activity and legitimate sales. Option B: a) Recognising the importance of and protecting the intellectual property rights of creators. b) Targeting government policy at helping existing businesses grow and supporting innovative start-ups. c) Reducing red tape, repealing sections 17 and 18 of the Digital Economy Act, and only implementing other sections (especially 9 to 16) if and when there is a robust evidence base and democratic legitimacy to justify so doing. 2. Protect the essential freedom of the internet by: a) Putting in place additional safeguards for online freedom of speech. b) Making it clear that the Government will not allow a two-tier internet, and will hold to the principle of net neutrality, if necessary through regulation. 3. Create a level playing field for business by: a) Broadening the definition of research and development tax credits to apply better to IT research and development, and ensuring that they are more accessible to small and medium-sized businesses. b) Taking a leading role in establishing links between universities and the creative industries. c) Suspending IR35 in order to gather more data on permanent abolition. 4. Restore the ownership of data to citizens by: a) Establishing the central principle that data should belong to the individual to whom it refers. b) Making all government data consistent with open standards, and ensuring that all public data belongs to the nation. c) Ensuring that all data is held securely within its specific department, and cannot be accessed by other departments without passing established levels of authority. d) Returning to elected representatives (typically the Secretary of State concerned) all decisions relating to the balance between liberty and security. 5. Close the government skills gap by: a) Establishing a new government office, encompassing the work of the current Chief Information Officer and staffed with experts in the IT field. b) Ensuring that all procurement policy and oversight of major IT contracts across government is channelled through this office, thereby promoting interconnectivity. c) Driving up experience and skills in the Civil Service and local government across all departments by encouraging all staff above a certain grade to undergo a period of initial training upon appointment, which is refreshed annually. 6. Improve digital inclusion by: a) Ensuring that all appropriate public services are available online and are accessible by an average retail mobile phone. b) Working with the telecommunications industry to make government services and data free to access via mobile phones and on public wi-fi networks. c) Accelerating and improving the roll-out of faster broadband by promoting online government services and working with industry to improve infrastructure where necessary. 7. Stimulate political involvement by: a) Encouraging Parliament to present information on its business that is aimed at members of the public, not procedural experts. b) Introducing online public consultations during the writing stage of the legislative process. c) Giving citizens the right to petition government at all levels, and to receive a proportionate response from decision-makers. Applicability: Federal, except 3 b) (lines 35-36), aspects of 5 b) and c) (lines 50-54), and aspects of 6 (lines 55-62) which are England only. Mover and summation: 16 minutes combined; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. In addition to speeches from the platform, it will be possible for conference representatives to make concise (maximum one-minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See 'interventions' on page 7. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00, Sunday 18th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. There will be a vote between Options A (lines 12-19) and B (lines 20-25) in section 1 of the motion. 17.10 Speech Chair: Robert Adamson Aide: Justine McGuinness F29 Speech by Norman Baker MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport 17.30 Party Business Chair: Geoff Payne (Vice Chair, Federal Conference Committee) Aide: Lucy Care F30 Recognition of Specified Associated Organisations and Associated Organisations Federal Executive Mover: To be announced Summation: To be announced Conference notes that the Federal Executive has completed the review of Specified Associated Organisations (SAOs) and Associated Organisations (AOs) required by Article 13.3 of the Constitution and reported upon it in its report to Conference. Conference agrees that: 1. As a result of this review, the Federal Executive recommends that the following organisations have their status as SAOs renewed until 2015: a) Agents & Organisers Association. b) ALDC (Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors). c) ALDES (Association of Liberal Democrat Engineers & Scientists). d) Liberal Youth. e) PCA (Parliamentary Candidates Association). f) WLD (Women Liberal Democrats). 2. As a result of the review, the Federal Executive recommends that the following organisations have their status as SAOs provisionally renewed until 2015 subject to the following conditions: a) DELGA (Liberal Democrats Lesbian & Gay Association) - provisional acceptance subject to successful implementation of plan to reverse membership decline and increase from 200 at present to the minimum threshold of 250 by the end of 2012. b) EMLD (Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats) - provisional acceptance subject to amending constitution to comply with Article 4.5 of the Constitution and more information on the Annual Accounts to be submitted by Federal Conference in September. 3. As a result of the review the Federal Executive recommends that the following organisations have their status as SAOs suspended from the list in the Constitution as no documents were been submitted by the motions deadline; if the requisite documents are not submitted by Federal Conference in September the following organisation will be downgraded to AO status: a) Liberal Democrat Lawyers Association. 4. As a result of this review the Federal Executive recommends that the following organisations have their status as AOs renewed until 2015: a) Humanist and Secularist Liberal Democrats. b) LDCF (Liberal Democrat Christian Forum). c) LDDA (Liberal Democrat Disability Association). d) LDEG (Liberal Democrat European Group). e) LDFAF (Liberal Democrat Friends of the Armed Forces). f) Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel. g) Liberal Democrat Friends of Kashmir. h) Liberal Democrat Friends of Pakistan. i) Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine. j) Liberal Democrats for Peace & Security. 5. As a result of the review the Federal Executive recommends that the following organisations have their status as AOs provisionally renewed until 2015 subject to the following conditions: a) Green Liberal Democrats - provisional acceptance subject to receipt of 2010 Accounts by Federal Conference in September. b) LDEA (Liberal Democrat Education Association) - provisional acceptance subject to amending the constitution to comply with Article 4.6 and also to include confirmation of PPERA compliance. c) Liberal International (British Group) - provisional acceptance subject to amending constitution to comply with Article 4.6. 6. As a result of the review the Federal Executive recommends that the following organisations have their status as AOs suspended from the list in the Constitution until further notice as no documents have been submitted; if the requisite documents are not submitted by Federal Conference in September both of the following organisations will remain suspended: a) ALDTU (Association of Liberal Democrat Trade Unionists). b) DAGGER. Applicability: Federal. Mover of motion: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00, Sunday 19th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 18.00 Close Of Session Tuesday 20th September 09.00 Party Business Chair: Caroline Pigeon AM (London) Aide: Geoff Payne (Vice Chair, Federal Conference Committee) F31 Standing Order Amendment: Emergency Motions 17 conference representatives Mover: Baroness Jolly Summation: Jeremy Hargreaves Delete 4.4, emergency motions, and 4.5, ballots for emergency motions, and insert: 4.4 Emergency motions a) The Committee shall ensure adequate time is allocated for debate of emergency motions. b) The Committee may put any emergency motion on the agenda for debate. c) The Committee may hold a ballot to select any emergency policy motions to debate. If one or more ballots is held the committee shall circulate the text of all balloted motions to the representatives attending conference as soon as practicable and shall specify a closing time for the ballot. Applicability: Federal. Mover of motion: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00, Monday 19th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. The existing text of standing orders is given on pages 58-65 of this Agenda. A standing order amendment requires a two-thirds majority to pass. F32 Constitutional Amendment: Federal Appeals Panel Islington Mover: Mark Pack Summation: Caspar Woolley In clause 14.6 of the Federal Constitution, delete: The Panel shall determine and publish its own procedures (provided that the same are not inconsistent with this Constitution and subject to confirmation by conference). It shall also publish its decisions on its interpretation of this Constitution. And insert: The Panel shall determine and publish its own procedures (provided that the same are not inconsistent with this Constitution and subject to confirmation by conference). The Panel shall publish once a year, at the time of the party's autumn conference, a report containing its procedures, all of its decisions on its interpretation of this Constitution since the previous report, a summary of each of its other rulings since the previous report and any other matters the Panel shall see fit to include. Applicability: Federal. Mover of motion: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00, Monday 19th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. A constitutional amendment requires at least a two-thirds majority to pass. 09.40 Policy Motion Chair: Jeremy Hargreaves (Vice Chair, Federal Policy Committee) Aide: Jo Shaw F33 Science Not Stigma: Ending the Blood Ban 14 conference representatives Mover: Dij Davies Summation: Chris Ward Conference notes that: a) Men who have had sex with men (MSM), even with a condom, are banned from donating blood in the UK for life. b) Women who have sex with MSM individuals are prevented from giving blood for 12 months, effectively excluding long-term partners of men who have had sex with a man only once in their lifetime from donating. c) The UK currently suffers from low levels of blood stock, particularly for certain blood types. d) Heterosexual men and women who have had unprotected sex in a high-risk HIV country can give blood after one year. e) Nick Clegg and David Cameron both made comments prior to the election that the MSM blood ban should end. f) Blood donations are not all individually screened for HIV, unlike in other developed countries. Conference believes that: 1. The safety and well-being of those who require blood transfusions should always be paramount. 2. There is currently a high demand for certain blood types and the situation of low blood stock could be exacerbated by any future epidemics or pandemics, having catastrophic consequences for those who require blood transfusions. 3. The restrictions placed on the MSM group are inconsistent with the restrictions placed on other 'high risk' groups. 4. The criteria for being eligible to give blood should be based on the risk posed by the behaviour of the individual, not their membership of a certain societal grouping. 5. Removing the outright ban will give way to between one and two million new donors, based on statistics suggesting that around 6% to 10% of the male population are gay or bisexual. 6. Each individual blood donation should be subject to the most sensitive forms of screening available to ensure risk of transfusion-transmitted infections are absolutely minimal. 7. A five or ten year MSM deferral is not sufficient in terms of increasing the number of donors. 8. The outright ban on men who have sex with other men from donating blood in the UK should be removed. Conference calls for blood donations to be subject to the most thorough and advanced screening available to ensure minimal risk of transfusion-transmitted infections. Conference resolves to urge the Government to end the outright ban on the MSM group from donating blood; to end the twelve month deferral on female partners of that group; and subsequently to work with medical experts and organisations to ensure adequate criteria and restrictions are put in place that reflect the risk posed by the behaviour of each individual. Applicability: England only. Mover of motion: 7 minutes; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00, Monday 19th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 10.20 Policy Motion Chair: Susan Gaszczak Aide: Cllr Jon Ball F34 Adult Social Care 10 conference representatives Mover: John Pugh MP (Co-Chair, Parliamentary Party Committee on Health and Care) Summation: Baroness Jolly (Co-Chair, Parliamentary Party Committee on Health and Care) Conference believes in a social care system that: A. Enhances the independence, privacy and dignity of individual citizens. B. Encourages individual health and well-being, whilst meeting the needs of a changing society. C. Empowers service users and their families, enabling them to make fully informed decisions about every aspect of the care they receive. D. Improves fair access to services and promotes intergenerational equity. Conference welcomes the Coalition Government's commitment to provide additional investment to support social care, reaching œ2 billion per year by 2014-15, and further welcomes the Commission on the Funding of Social Care and Support (Dilnot Commission) recommendations and the Law Commission report on Adult Social Care. Conference calls on the Government to: 1. Use the publication of the Dilnot Commission recommendations as a basis for implementing long-overdue reform of the social care system, including to: a) Ensure that people are protected from the high costs of their social care. b) Devise access criteria and a transparent assessment system which enables users and their families to understand their entitlements and liabilities and to plan their care. c) Work with local authorities to devise a sustainable system of deferred payments, which is fair to individuals and enables communities to develop new social care services. d) Extend the means testing threshold, guaranteeing support for those of lower means. 2. Implement the Law Commission's main recommendations, including to: a) Put wellbeing at the heart of all decision-making about the care of older people, using new statutory principles. b) Build a single, streamlined assessment and eligibility framework to be implemented consistently nationwide. c) Protect service users from abuse and neglect with a new legal framework. d) Place adult safeguarding boards on a statutory footing thereby giving them greater powers to prevent abuse. e) Improve portability within the social care system, allowing service users to receive continuity of support and ensuring they do not have to negotiate a new care package when moving between local authority areas. f) Allow for new joined-up commissioning arrangements that focus on quality of outcomes, rather than quantity of supply. Local authorities would commission providers to supply a package of services with the aim of maintaining independence or reducing dependency. 3. Create an independent Older People's Commissioner for England, funded in part by the private care industry, who would: a) Champion the rights of older people. b) Commission research into older people's needs and new service models. c) Ensure that older people are involved in decision making on issues of concern to them and their families. 4. Ensure that older people and their families have access to high quality, independent information and advice about care services, eligibility and funding. 5. Devise a complaints system that guarantees complaints made by staff and service users are responded to effectively, quickly and sensitively. Applicability: England only. Mover of motion: 7 minutes; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00, Monday 19th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 11.15 Speech Chair: Linda Jack Aide: Cllr Chris Maines F35 Speech by Steve Webb MP, Minister of State for Pensions 11.35 Question And Answer Session Chair: Baroness Jolly (Co-Chair, Parliamentary Party Committee on Health and Care) Aide: Baroness Brinton (Vice Chair, Federal Conference Committee) F36 NHS Reform Report Back Panellists will include: l Paul Burstow MP, Minister of State for Care Services l John Pugh MP, Co-Chair, Parliamentary Party Committee on Health and Care l Baroness Williams of Crosby l Dr Graham Winyard, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England and Medical Director of the NHS A chance for conference representatives to put questions on the NHS Reform Bill, to a panel including party spokespeople and outside experts. Conference representatives may submit concise questions (maximum 25 words) on a form collected from and submitted to the Speakers' Table by 09.40 on Tuesday 20th September. Questions may also be emailed to questions@libdems.org.uk until 17.00 on Thursday 15th September. The chair will select which questions shall be asked during the session. See 'question and answer sessions' on page 7. 12.20 Speech Chair: Susan Gaszczak Aide: Lucy Care F37 Speech by Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 12.40 Lunch 14.30 Policy Motion Chair: Cllr Jon Ball Aide: Jeremy Hargreaves (Vice Chair, Federal Conference Committee) F38 A Green Stimulus for Economic Recovery 10 conference representatives Mover: Stephen Williams MP (Co-Chair, Parliamentary Party Committee on the Treasury) Summation: Baroness Parminter Conference recognises the need for economic recovery in the UK to be based substantially on investment in manufacturing industry and infrastructure, reducing the UK's dependence on financial services and spreading prosperity round the country. Conference reaffirms its commitment to the goal of a zero-carbon Britain, and welcomes the Coalition Government's action in setting a level for the UK's carbon budget for 2023-27 equivalent to a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, thereby providing a clear long-term incentive for low-carbon investments. Conference believes that economic recovery based on a return to business-as-usual patterns would be economically and environmentally unsustainable, and calls on the Government to pursue a green growth strategy centred on the development of low-carbon and environmentally sustainable technologies, industries and infrastructure. Conference recognises that this green growth strategy will generate new jobs, promote exports of new technologies and reduce fossil fuel imports, thereby protecting UK businesses and consumers from oil and gas price rises and improving the UK's competitiveness in international markets. Conference applauds the steps taken so far by the Coalition Government to promote green growth, including in particular the Green Deal energy efficiency programme and support for apprenticeships, the creation of the Green Investment Bank, the establishment of the low-carbon Technology and Innovation Centre, reform of the electricity market to provide clear incentives for investment in renewable energy, and subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles. Conference calls for the Coalition Government to: 1. Place green growth at the heart of its strategies for recovery from recession and the creation of sustained economic prosperity. 2. Identify the barriers to green growth, including shortages of investment capital, skills, training, design and manufacturing capacity, deficiencies in grid infrastructure and low spending on energy research, development and deployment, and take urgent action to address them. 3. Ensure that the planning system fully supports green growth. 4. Provide financial support to critical investments in the skills, infrastructure and innovation needed to support the green growth strategy. 5. Ensure that the Green Investment Bank is able to play its full part in the green growth strategy, including by introducing legislation in the next parliamentary session to establish the Bank's remit and guarantee its permanence and independence. 6. Develop government procurement policies to promote the rapid expansion of low-carbon and other environmentally sustainable technologies and services. 7. Ensure that UKTI and ECGD are fully integrated into this strategy, increasing their support to low-carbon sectors, and withdrawing fully from supporting all fossil fuel-related sectors, including legislating, if necessary, to modify these agencies' remits. Applicability: Federal, except 3 and 4 (lines 26-28) which are England only. Mover of motion: 7 minutes; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00, Monday 19th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 15.30 Speech Chair: Lucy Care Aide: Baroness Brinton (Vice Chair, Federal Conference Committee) F39 Speech by Andrew Stunell MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 15.50 Policy Motion Chair: Geoff Payne (Vice Chair, Federal Conference Committee) Aide: Andrew Wiseman (Chair, Federal Conference Committee) F40 A New Purpose for Politics: Quality of Life (Quality of Life Policy Paper) Federal Policy Committee Mover: Lord Marks QC Summation: Jeremy Hargreaves (Chair of the Policy Working Group) Conference welcomes policy paper 102, A New Purpose for Politics: Quality of Life, as a statement of Liberal Democrat policy on the importance of quality of life and policies to achieve it. Conference affirms that: i) Pursuit of a good quality of life, for themselves and others, is most people's main aim in life. ii) The importance of maximising quality of life, through mechanisms other than simply increasing economic prosperity, has historically not received the attention in public policy that it deserves. iii) New research techniques allowing wellbeing to be measured are very welcome tools to help in improving quality of life. iv) Supporting people to make their own choices to maximise their quality of life, through both economic and non-economic means, should now become the central goal for public policy. v) The Liberal Democrat approach to improving quality of life should be based on traditional Liberal principles of supporting and equipping people to take their own decisions about their lives. Conference welcomes the Government's action for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to collect information on wellbeing, which will help inform further action to improve quality of life, and calls for: A. The traditional liberal tools of information and education to be at the heart of supporting people to improve their quality of life. B. The creation of a National Institute of Wellbeing to oversee the collation, development and presentation of research evidence and best practice, and to comment on the success of government policies and other measures in increasing wellbeing. C. The National Institute for Wellbeing to create and maintain a Wellbeing Index, allowing the public to compare how successfully large organisations promote quality of life, as a means of driving further improvement. D. The broadening of public health education to cover public wellbeing education, to help people make informed choices. E. The role of wellbeing to be included in schools' Personal, Health and Social Education (PHSE) curricula. Conference believes that: 1. Government should make promoting quality of life an integral part of policy-making, particularly through: a) Health and wellbeing boards including a range of wellbeing elements in their local health and wellbeing strategies. b) The UK Government appointing a cabinet-level champion for wellbeing, supported by a small official unit to drive policy-making across government c) The European Union appointing a European Commissioner Champion for Wellbeing. d) Existing suites of statutory Plans incorporating a Wellbeing Plan, and using wellbeing impact assessments. e) Future Liberal Democrat manifestos considering including a Wellbeing Thread, explaining the impact of our policies on improving quality of life. 2. Public services should be accountable to the people they serve and calls for local public services to take action to present a more joined up face to users. 3. Good mental health is crucial to quality of life, welcomes the Government's commitment to widening access to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and calls for: a) Improved access to a wider range of therapies to improve quality of life. b) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to be reviewed to ensure they provide a sufficient service. 4. Communities are crucial to quality of life, and we should support them, and specifically calls for greater use of civic awards to recognise contributions to the community. 5. Advertising plays an important role in our lives, and that government should consider actions to educate and inform people to understand and handle media advertising. 6. Experiences in the first three to five years of your life are crucial to your future quality of life and should continue to be a priority for investment. 7. Counselling and other similar support can significantly increase very low wellbeing and should be more widely available. 8. Activities outside work such as sport and other physical activity, the arts and voluntary activity are valuable in promoting wellbeing and should continue to be supported. 9. Working arrangements are key factors in overall quality of life and welcomes: a) The actions which many employers already take to help maximise their employees' quality of life, and would like to see this approach extended to other workplaces, especially to the lowest-paid. b) The information we now have about what makes a workplace which is good for its employees' quality of life. c) The importance of the option of flexible working to wellbeing, and welcomes the Government's commitment to extend the right to request flexible working to everyone. Conference further believes that: i) It is not for government to set targets for employee satisfaction and the extent of flexible working; however there is a role for improved information on them, to help level the power balance between employers and employees. ii) The 9,000 or so largest organisations in the UK which together employ 50% of the UK workforce, should therefore, by 2014, report on employee satisfaction and the extent of flexible working. iii) The existing power to disqualify someone from being a company director for financial impropriety should be extended to serious failure to protect employees' wellbeing. iv) Mutuals contribute to employees' sense of control over their work, which is an important factor in quality of life, and should be encouraged. Conference notes that our surroundings have a significant impact on our quality of life, and therefore calls for: I. The promotion of quality of life to lie at the heart of the planning framework. II. Planning frameworks generally to promote open space and exposure to the natural environment. III. Local people to have the ability through a petition to call a referendum on the proposed sale of any public open land, including school playing fields. Applicability: Federal, except D and E (lines 28-31), 1 a) (lines 35-36), 1 d) (lines 40-41), 2, 3 and 4 (lines 44-52), 6, 7 and 8 (lines 55-60) and I, II, and III (lines 82-86) which are England only. Mover and summation: 16 minutes combined; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. In addition to speeches from the platform, it will be possible for conference representatives to make concise (maximum one-minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See 'interventions' on page 7. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00, Monday 19th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 17.20 Party Business Chair: Arnie Gibbons Aide: Qassim Afzal F41 Community Politics Bermondsey & Old Southwark, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Brentwood & Ongar, Ceredigion, Chester, Eastbourne, Eastleigh, Glasgow North, Glasgow South, Havering, Hillingdon, Montgomeryshire, Romsey & Southampton North, Westmorland & Lonsdale and 17 conference representatives Mover: Tim Farron MP (President of the Liberal Democrats) Summation: Cllr Richard Kemp Conference notes that because of our position as the smaller party in a Coalition Government, the need for a strong and distinctive Liberal Democrat political identity is more important than ever before. Conference further notes that: i) Much of our success has, in the past, been born out of our commitment to 'community politics', engaging energetically with the communities we serve and delivering for them. ii) In the preamble to the constitution, we commit to enabling all citizens to "contribute fully to their communities and to take part in the decisions which affect their lives". iii) The nature of communities is changing: as well as being geographic they can be based on interest or identity and therefore make use of the internet and social media alongside traditional methods of communication. iv) Following a set of disappointing results in the May 2011 elections, as well the defeat in the Alternative Vote referendum, there is a need at every level of the party to reassert the Liberal Democrats' commitment to the communities we serve. Conference reaffirms its determination to maintain the independent and distinctive voice of the Liberal Democrats. Conference also reasserts our commitment to the communities we serve through a strengthening of the party infrastructure to ensure our continued hard work and campaigning at national and local levels translates into electoral success thanks to genuine positive action in our local areas. Conference believes that: a) Our movement into power locally and nationally in recent times is hugely positive, but it has also had a tendency to divert us from the principles and practice of 'community politics'. b) 'Community politics' for Liberal Democrats should be both tactic and ideology at all levels of the party: town hall to Whitehall ensuring that Liberal Democrat candidates deserve and achieve success through electoral opportunities each year. c) The Liberal Democrats are a very important community in their own right which the party nationally needs to engage with. d) The party should make a renewed commitment to the principles of 'community politics' as outlined at the 1970 Eastbourne Liberal Assembly, using an approach that has been updated to ensure its contemporary relevance in the current political climate. Conference therefore calls for: 1. A renewed strategic emphasis on 'community politics': our role as political activists is to help organise people in communities to take and use power, to use our political skills to redress grievances, and to represent people at all levels of the political structure. 2. The party's parliamentarians and decision-making bodies to ensure that the policies and positions they develop are conducive to community politics and are worded and presented in such a way to help the community activist. 3. Politicians at all levels of the party to ensure dialogue with the communities they serve through 'pavement politics' including: residents surveys, street surgeries, public meetings and effective use of social media. 4. A continued emphasis on building campaigning capacity, recruiting members and activists and raising money. 5. A reaffirmed determination that the bodies within the party responsible for training and development have sufficient resources to ensure that members and activists across the party have the tools they need to ensure success. 6. Improved methods of communicating with members and activists across all levels of the party to ensure a strong, efficient and effective infrastructure that will help both to win election campaigns and help those activists serve their communities to the best possible level. Applicability: Federal. Mover of motion: 7 minutes; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00, Monday 19th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 18.00 Close Of Session Wednesday 21st September 09.00 Party Business Chair: Qassim Afzal Aide: Baroness Doocey AM (London) F42 Interim Peer Election Regulations Federal Executive Mover: To be announced Summation: To be announced In rule 1, after 'The Chief Executive shall be the Acting Returning Officer.', insert: 'The rules of the Federal Appeals Panel shall make provision for a process to replace the Chair in this role if necessary.'. In rule 4, delete '2010' and insert: 'of the year in which the election is held'. In rule 5, after 'Former Liberal Democrat', insert: '(and predecessor party)'. In rule 6, delete 'in print ready form' and insert: 'as a high resolution PDF or text-only Word document'. In rule 7, delete entire text and insert: 7. Each candidate shall be responsible for supplying material that verifies, to the satisfaction of the Acting Returning Officer, any statement in his or her personal election address claiming that he or she is endorsed by any individual or organisation. Such material must accompany the candidate's personal election address artwork. In rule 10, delete ', including the Conference Gazette,'. In rule 15, after 'the Leader of the Liberal Democrats and', insert: 'those nominated by the Leader'. In the appendix 'Election Address Supplement to Rule 6': After 'All artwork should', delete 'preferably'. Delete: Your first side of paper can contain portrait artwork containing whatever the candidate wishes. However, on the second side of paper candidates will be allowed 300 words (text only) to answer the following questions: _ 1 How would your experience enable you to fulfil the role of a working Peer? _ 2 What would you aim to achieve as a Liberal Democrat member of the House? _ 3 To which policy areas would you wish to contribute? _ 4 How would your work as a Peer help the party in general? After 'no later than 12 noon on', delete 'Wednesday 29th September 2010' and insert 'to be inserted'. Current Interim Peer Election Regulations: 1. The Chair of the Federal Appeals Panel shall be the Returning Officer. The Chief Executive shall be the Acting Returning Officer. The Deputy Acting Returning Officer will be the Head of Compliance and Constitutional Support. Other Deputy Acting Returning Officers may be appointed if required. 2. The Federal Executive shall draw up a timetable every two years for the receipts of nominations, dispatch and return of ballot papers and the counting of the votes for each election covered by these regulations. 3. Nominations may be submitted by 25 Conference Representatives and must be accompanied by the written consent of the candidate. They must also include a declaration of interests and probity form similar to the one used for Parliamentary candidates. 4. Candidates must have been a fully paid up Liberal Democrat member for at least one year prior to 1st August 2010. 5. Former Liberal Democrat MP's, MEP's, MSP's and AM's shall automatically go on the list ex-officio and so shall not be eligible to stand 6. Each candidate shall be entitled to include in the mailing of ballot papers for each election in which he or she is a candidate a personal election address covering up to two sides of A5 paper, printed by and at the expense of the Federal Party. Election address artwork in print ready form must reach the Acting Returning Officer at an address and by a date to be notified (see further instructions at the end). 7. Candidates must not include endorsements of themselves by others in the artwork that they supply. 8. No candidate may incur, or directly or indirectly authorize or cause to be incurred, any further expenses on campaigning at any time before or after the close of nominations. 9. Lists of the names and addresses of conference representatives are confidential and shall not be released for the purposes of the election. 10. No party publication, including the Conference Gazette, may accept advertisements in support of or in opposition to candidates. 11. No material published or circulated by or on behalf of a candidate shall defame by name or implication any other candidate and no candidate shall so defame any other candidate in the course of personal canvassing. 12. The Returning Officer shall have the power to disqualify before declaration of the result, or unseat if declared elected, any candidate who is found to be in breach of regulations 4, 7, 8 or 11 but shall not exercise such power without first offering any such candidate the right to make representation, and having regard thereto. 13. All contested elections shall be conducted by secret ballot and the single transferable vote. Counts shall be conducted in accordance with the current edition of the Electoral Reform Society's publication How to Conduct an Election by the Single Transferable Vote. If the Specified Proportions of men and women are not elected by the operation of the above rules, the Returning Officer shall conduct such further counts as he or she considers necessary and declare elected those members of the under-represented sex and declare not elected those members of the over-represented sex who would or would not have been elected with such larger and smaller numbers of members as would cause the correct number of that sex to be elected. 14. Those elected to the panel will serve for four years unless they resign by writing to the Chief Executive of the Liberal Democrats. The advisory panel to the Leader of the Liberal Democrats shall also have the power in exceptional circumstances to remove people from the elected list. 15. Those elected to the panel will be subject to the scrutiny of an advisory panel to the Leader of the Liberal Democrats and to the separate scrutiny of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. 16. Any Party member may lodge, in writing, a formal complaint of infringement of election regulations forthwith upon becoming aware of any alleged infringement and not more than 21 days after the declaration. The written complaint should be addressed to the Acting Returning Officer and specify in detail the nature of the infringement. The Returning Officer shall then decide, in full consultation with the Acting Returning Officer, whether there is sufficient evidence and grounds to uphold the complaint, but shall not do so without offering any candidate concerned the right to make representations, and having regard thereto. 17. Appeals against decisions of the Returning Officer must be referred to the Federal Appeals Panel within 14 days of the decision. For the purposes of appeals under these regulations the Chair of the Federal Appeals Panel shall not act as a member of the Federal Appeals Panel, and the other Panel members shall appoint one of their number as Acting Chair. 18. If a complaint is made prior to the declaration of the result, the Returning Officer shall have the power to postpone such declaration until the determination of such complaint or, where an appeal is made against his decision, until the determination of such appeal. Election Address Supplement to Rule 6: Each candidate is entitled to submit camera-ready artwork covering up to one side of A5 paper (148 x 210mm leave a margin of at least 5mm all round) and a second side containing written answers to the required four questions. Your artwork must be submitted as a high resolution pdf with all pictures and fonts embedded and it is up to you to make sure it will reproduce as you want it when sent to the printers. If you cannot supply a high-resolution pdf then a text only word document is the only acceptable alternative. All artwork should preferably be submitted by e-mail. Your first side of paper can contain portrait artwork containing whatever the candidate wishes. However, on the second side of paper candidates will be allowed 300 words (text only) to answer the following questions: _ 1 How would your experience enable you to fulfil the role of a working Peer? _ 2 What would you aim to achieve as a Liberal Democrat member of the House? _ 3 To which policy areas would you wish to contribute? _ 4 How would your work as a Peer help the party in general? In the election booklet the two A5 sheets for a candidate will be facing each other. Artwork and text must reach the Returning Officer no later than 12 noon on Wednesday 29th September 2010. PDF artwork files can be submitted by email to returning.officer@libdems.org.uk. Applicability: Federal. Mover of motion: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. In accordance with article 8.4 of the Federal Constitution, party election regulations are subject to ratification by the Conference but are not open to amendment. F43 Federal Committee Election Regulations Federal Executive Mover: To be announced Summation: To be announced In rule 1, after 'The Chief Executive shall be the Acting Returning Officer.', insert: 'The rules of the Federal appeals panel shall make provision for a process to replace the Chair in this role if necessary'. In rule 2, after 'cast their ballots electronically,' insert: 'and to view the candidates' election addresses electronically. The Returning Officer may carry out electronic communications with the electorate to facilitate the election'. In rule 4 (a), delete 'in camera ready form' and insert: 'as a high resolution PDF or text-only Word document'. Delete rule 4(d) and renumber acordingly. Current Election Regulations: 1. The Chair of the Federal Appeals Panel shall be the Returning Officer. The Chief Executive shall be the Acting Returning Officer. The Deputy Acting Returning Officer will be the Head of Compliance and Constitutional Support. Other Deputy Acting Returning Officers may be appointed if required. 2. The Federal Executive shall draw up a timetable for each year's receipts of nominations, dispatch and return of ballot papers and the counting of the votes for each election covered by these regulations. The Returning Officer may make provision for voters who wish to do so to cast their ballots electronically, and to view the candidates' election addresses electronically. 3. Nominations may be submitted by: a) Any Local Party; b) Any Regional Party; c) Any State Party; d) Any Specified Associated Organisations; or e) Any two Voting Conference Representatives with valid membership. and must be accompanied by the written consent of the candidate. For the election of Councillor Reps see rule 14(b). 4. (a) Each candidate shall be entitled to include in the mailing of ballot papers for each election in which he or she is a candidate a personal election address covering up to one side of A5 paper, printed by and at the expense of the Federal Party. Election address artwork in camera ready form must reach the Acting Returning Officer at an address and by a date to be notified. b) Each candidate shall be responsible for supplying material that verifies, to the satisfaction of the Acting Returning Officer, any statement in his or her personal election address claiming that he or she is endorsed by any individual or organisation. Such material must accompany the candidate's personal election address artwork. (c) No candidate may incur, or directly or indirectly authorise or cause to be incurred any further expenses on campaigning at any time before or after the close of nominations. (d) Candidates or their supporters must not use e-mail, e-groups, cix conferencing or websites during these elections to promote their candidacy, (e) Candidates must not carry out any activities during the election period, which may be viewed as treating. 5. The names and addresses of conference representatives are confidential and shall not be released for the purposes of the election. 6. (a) No party publication, including the Conference Gazette, may accept advertisements in support of or in opposition to candidates. (b) Candidates may not use Liberal Democrat News to specifically promote their candidacy but all other articles are permissible. 7. No material published or circulated by or on behalf of a candidate shall defame by name or implication any other candidate and no candidate shall so defame any other candidate in the course of personal canvassing. 8. The Returning Officer shall have the power to disqualify before declaration of the result, or unseat if declared elected, any candidate who is found to be in breach of regulations 4 or 7, but shall not exercise such power without first offering any such candidate the right to make representation, and having regard thereto. ... 14. (a) These Regulations shall be used for the biennial elections to the Federal Executive, Federal Conference Committee, Federal Policy Committee, International Relations Committee and ELDR Delegation. (b) They shall also be used for the election of Principal Councilor Representatives on the Federal Executive and the Federal Policy Committee except section three shall read: Nominations shall be submitted by any two Principal Councillors with valid membership and must be accompanied by the written consent of the candidate. Applicability: Federal. Mover of motion: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. In accordance with article 8.4 of the Federal Constitution, party election regulations are subject to ratification by the conference but are not open to amendment. 09.30 Policy Motion Chair: Sarah Boad Aide: Susan Gaszczak F44 The Arab Awakening 10 conference representatives Mover: Martin Horwood MP (Co-Chair, Parliamentary Party Committee on International Affairs) Summation: Lord Wallace of Saltaire Conference welcomes: i) The popular movements for change across the Middle East and North Africa. ii) The resulting progress in some countries towards democracy and constitutional reform. iii) UN Security Council Resolution 1973, the valuable humanitarian assistance to the people of Libya and the Libyan Interim National Council's commitment to a free, secular and democratic Libya. iv) The UK Government and the European Union's commitment to the region, particularly through the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Deauville Partnership. Conference condemns violent repression and denial of human rights in Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain and wherever it may occur. Conference believes that: A. Democracy, justice, free expression, free association and self-determination are universal human rights. B. Such human rights can discourage conflict, enhance prosperity and economic development, and build real long-term stability in the region. C. Countries which embrace freedom and pluralism should feel its full economic, social and political benefits. Conference calls for: 1. Governments across the region to respond peacefully to popular opposition, respect human rights, and move decisively towards constitutional and security sector reform coupled with free and fair elections. 2. The UK Government, together with the European Union and the G8, to support peaceful transition wherever possible by: a) Providing better incentives for the region, for instance by strengthening the European Endowment for Democracy, improving trade access in key economic sectors and positively considering visa facilitation and visa liberalisation, all conditional on respect for human rights, progress in reform and transition to open and transparent government. b) Ensuring that sufficient funds are allocated within the EU budget from 2014-20 to ensure the long-term success of the European Neighbourhood Policy and that the $20 billion promised to Egypt and Tunisia is delivered under the Deauville Partnership. 3. Learning from mistakes in Iraq, the international community to prepare a comprehensive and well-resourced post-conflict stabilisation strategy for Libya, and for the UK Government urgently to improve civil-military coordination between the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and Department for International Development. 4. The Liberal Democrat federal Party to work with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, European Liberal Democrats, Liberal International and sister parties in the region and with Liberal Youth and young people to encourage a peaceful transition to democracy in the region. Applicability: Federal. Mover of motion: 7 minutes; all other speakers: 4 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00, Monday 5th September; to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'amendments' on page 5. Amendments selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00, Tuesday 20th September, see 'separate votes' on page 8. 10.15 Speech Chair: Jenni Lang Aide: Sandra Gidley F45 Speech by Rt Hon Michael Moore MP, Secretary of State for Scotland 10.35 Question And Answer Session Chair: Jeremy Hargreaves (Vice Chair, Federal Policy Committee) Aide: Baroness Brinton (Vice Chair, Federal Conference Committee) F46 Question and Answer Session on International Issues Panellists will include: l Lord Ashdown, Chair of the Humanitarian Emergency Response Review l Jeremy Browne MP, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs l Baroness Falkner, Co-Chair, Parliamentary Party Committee on International Affairs l Nick Harvey MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces l Martin Horwood MP, Co-Chair, Parliamentary Party Committee on International Affairs A chance for conference representatives to put questions on any international issue. Conference representatives may submit concise questions (maximum 25 words) on a form collected from and submitted to the Speakers' Table by 18.00 on Tuesday 20th September. Questions may also be emailed to questions@libdems.org.uk until 17.00 on Thursday 15th September. The chair will select which questions shall be asked during the session. See 'question and answer sessions' on page 7. 11.20 Speech Chair: Cllr Chris Maines Aide: Linda Jack F47 Speech by Kirsty Williams AM, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats 11.40 Emergency Motion Or Topical Issue Chair: James Gurling (Chair, Campaigns and Communications Committee) Aide: Geoff Payne (Vice Chair, Federal Conference Committee) F48 Emergency Motion or Topical Issue This slot has been reserved for an emergency motion or discussion of an important current political issue. The deadline for emergency motions and for suggestions for topical issues is 13.00, Monday 5th September, to the Policy Unit, Liberal Democrat HQ. See 'emergency motions' on page 7 and 'topical issues' on page 11. Those selected for debate and/or proposed for the ballot will be printed in Conference Extra. Emergency motion timing - mover of motion: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. Topical issue timing - introducer of issue and spokesperson's response: 5 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see 'speaking at conference' on page 8. 12.40 Lunch 14.30 Party Business Chair: Tim Farron MP (President of the Liberal Democrats) Aide: Andrew Wiseman (Chair, Federal Conference Committee) F49 Party Awards F50 Appeal Speech F51 Speech by the Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP 15.45 Close Of Conference (approx.) Standing Orders For Federal Conference Glossary Of Terms Business motion A proposal to conduct the affairs of the Party in a particular way or to express an opinion on the way affairs have been conducted. Business amendment A proposal to change a business motion. Any such proposal should be significant, should be within the scope of the original motion and must not be a direct negative. Committee Throughout these standing orders, Committee means the Federal Conference Committee unless otherwise qualified. Constitutional amendment A proposal to change the constitution of the Party. Secondary constitutional amendment An amendment to a constitutional amendment. This must not introduce new material. Consultative session A meeting where selected areas of policy or strategy are considered in greater depth than is possible in full debates. Day visitor Someone who has paid the appropriate day visitor fee. Day visitors are not entitled to speak or vote in full sessions of conference. Elected representative A person elected by a local party or an SAO to represent them at conference. This term does not include substitutes appointed to replace an elected representative at a particular meeting of conference. It does include elected representatives who have not registered for a particular meeting of conference. Emergency motion A proposal which relates to a specific recent development which occurred after the deadline for submission of motions. Emergency motions must be brief. Emergency amendment An amendment to a motion which relates to a specific event which occurred after the deadline for the submission of amendments. It must be brief and uncontentious. Full session Any part of the conference agenda during which debates, topical issue discussions or discussion of business, including formal reports, takes place. This specifically excludes formal speeches such as those by the Leader or Party Officers. Non-voting member A party member who has paid the appropriate registration fee, but, because they are not an elected representative, is not entitled to vote at conference. A non-voting member is, however, entitled to submit a speaker's card for any item on which voting members may submit a speaker's card. Point of order A suggestion to the chair of a debate that the conduct of the debate, as laid down in the standing orders, has not been followed correctly. Policy motion A proposal to adopt a new policy or reaffirm an existing one. This includes motions accompanying policy papers. Policy amendment A proposal to change a policy motion. Any proposal should be of significant importance, should be within the scope of the original motion and must not be a direct negative. Policy paper A paper prepared by the Federal Policy Committee and submitted to conference for debate under the terms of Article 5.4 of the Federal Party constitution. Procedural motion A proposal that the conduct of a debate should be changed in a specific way. Procedural motions are: Move to next business A proposal that the conference should cease to consider an item of business and immediately move to the next item on the agenda. Reference back A proposal to refer a motion or amendment to a named body of the Party for further consideration. Request for a count A request to the chair that a specific vote be counted and recorded rather than decided on the chair's assessment of a show of voting cards. Separate vote A request to the chair of a debate that a part or parts of a motion or amendment should be voted on separately. Suspension of standing orders A proposal to relax specific standing orders for a stated purpose. Special conference An additional meeting of the conference requisitioned by the Federal Executive, Federal Policy Committee, conference itself or 200 conference representatives under the provisions of Article 6.6 of the Federal constitution. Standing order amendment A proposal to change these standing orders. Secondary standing order amendment An amendment to a standing order amendment. This must not introduce new material. Topical issue discussion A discussion on a policy issue of significant and topical relevance, conducted without a vote. Voting member A person who is entitled to vote at conference. This term includes substitutes replacing conference representatives for a particular meeting of conference. It does not include conference representatives who have not paid any registration fee that may be in force nor does it include day visitors or observers who are not conference representatives. Standing Orders 1. The conference agenda 1.1 What is on the agenda The agenda for each meeting of conference, other than a special conference, shall include time for: a) One or more consultative sessions; save that the Committee may decide not to hold any consultative sessions at a spring conference. b) A business session or sessions for the consideration of reports from the Parliamentary Party in the House of Commons, the Parliamentary Party in the House of Lords, the Parliamentary Party in the European Parliament, the Federal Executive, the Federal Finance and Administration Committee, the Federal Policy Committee and the Federal Conference Committee together with, when appropriate, reports from any other body the Committee considers appropriate, accounts, the annual report, business motions, constitutional amendments and standing order amendments. c) Policy motions (including motions accompanying policy papers). d) Emergency motions. e) Topical issue discussions. f) Any other business which the Committee thinks appropriate. The time to be allocated to each type of business and the order of that business shall be decided by the Committee provided that conference may decide not to take any particular item on the agenda. 1.2 Conference or council of state parties In addition, time before or after any meeting may be agreed with the relevant state party for a meeting of the conference or council of that party. 1.3 Right to submit agenda items a) Reports to conference may be submitted only by the bodies listed in paragraph 1.1(b). b) Business motions (including amendments and emergency business motions and amendments), constitutional amendments and secondary constitutional amendments, standing order amendments and secondary standing order amendments may be submitted by the Federal Executive, Federal Policy Committee, state parties, regional parties in England, local parties, Specified Associated Organisations and 10 conference representatives. Business motions, standing order amendments and secondary standing order amendments may also be submitted by the Federal Conference Committee. c) Motions accompanying policy papers may only be submitted by the Federal Policy Committee. d) Policy motions (including amendments, emergency policy motions and amendments) may be submitted by the Federal Policy Committee, state parties, regional parties in England, local parties, Specified Associated Organisations and 10 conference representatives. e) Proposals for topical issue discussions may be submitted by any voting member. 1.4 How motions and amendments are submitted All motions and amendments must be submitted to the Committee. They must be typed clearly and accompanied by the name, address and telephone number(s) of a person authorised to agree to their being composited or redrafted. Motions submitted by conference representatives must be accompanied by all their signatures, names and addresses. 1.5 The deadlines by which motions, amendments, reports and questions to reports must be submitted The Committee shall specify: a) The closing date for the receipt of policy motions (including motions accompanying policy papers), business motions, constitutional amendments and amendments to standing orders, which shall be at least eight weeks before the start of conference. b) The closing date for the receipt of amendments to motions published in the agenda and emergency motions, which shall be at least two days before the start of conference. c) The closing date for the submission of written reports from the bodies listed in paragraph 1.1(b), which will be set so as to enable their distribution with the agenda. Any supplementary report submitted later than this deadline may only be tabled at conference with the permission of the Committee. d) The closing date for the submission of questions to any of the reports listed in the agenda, which shall be at least two days before the start of conference, except for questions to the reports of the Parliamentary Parties in the House of Commons, House of Lords and European Parliament, where the closing date shall be at least one hour before the start of the business session at which the report is due to be considered. e) Notwithstanding 1.5(d), questions may always be submitted to any of the reports listed in the agenda arising from events occurring after the deadline specified in 1.5(d). The deadline for these questions shall be one hour before the start of the business session at which the report is due to be considered. f) The closing date for proposals for topical issue discussions, which shall be at least two days before the start of conference 1.6 Notification of deadlines All dates specified under Standing Order 1.5 shall be notified to conference representatives and bodies entitled to submit motions. Publication in the party newspaper may be treated as notice for this purpose. 1.7 Later deadlines in special circumstances In special circumstances the Committee may specify later dates than those indicated above. In particular, where developments which, in the opinion of the Committee, are of great importance have taken place after the closing date for emergency motions and questions to reports, the Committee may make time available for an additional emergency motion or for a statement to be made on behalf of the Party or for additional questions to be submitted to reports. 2. Consultative sessions 2.1 The subjects for consultative sessions The subjects for debate at consultative sessions shall be chosen by the Committee on the advice of the Federal Policy Committee and, where appropriate, the Federal Executive, and published in the agenda. Two or more such sessions may be held simultaneously. 2.2 Speaking at consultative sessions Any member of the Party may be called to speak at a consultative session and, with the approval of the chair, non-members with relevant expertise may also be called. 2.3 Voting at consultative sessions At the discretion of the chair a vote by show of hands may be taken to indicate the weight of opinion among members present on any issue that has been debated. 3. The agenda 3.1 The shortlisting of motions The Committee shall draw up the agenda and shall decide which of the motions duly submitted shall be included in it. The Committee may allocate time for one or more policy or business motions to be selected by ballot. Copies of motions not selected shall be available for inspection and will be supplied to any conference representative on payment of a copying charge and postage. 3.2 Motions for the amendment of the constitution or standing orders Save as detailed below in Standing Order 4.3, all proposed amendments to the constitution or standing orders must be either selected for debate or included in a ballot to allow conference representatives to determine an order of priority for allocating time. 3.3 Balance between State and Federal policy debates The Committee shall, in drawing up the agenda, have due regard to the balance of State and Federal policy debates and in particular shall as far as possible organise the agenda so that all matters which relate solely to one or more state parties but not all State Parties or the Federal Party shall be considered at either the beginning or the end of the conference. 4. Selection of motions and amendments 4.1 Compositing or otherwise altering motions In drawing up the agenda the Committee shall seek to reflect the range of views in the Party as indicated by the motions and amendments submitted. The Committee may: a) Treat any severable part of a motion or amendment as a separate motion or amendment. b) Redraft a motion or amendment so as to improve expression, remove inaccuracy or superfluity or take account of new developments. c) Composite similar motions or amendments. 4.2 Selection of amendments The Committee shall decide which of the amendments duly submitted to each motion shall be selected. No amendment shall be selected if, in the opinion of the Committee it is insubstantial, outside the scope of the motion, or tantamount to a direct negative of the motion. 4.3 Motions for the amendment of the constitution or standing orders The Committee may refuse to select a motion for amendment of the constitution or standing orders if, in their opinion, it is: a) Similar in effect to another motion which has been selected for debate or ballot at the same meeting of conference. b) Similar in effect to a motion that has been rejected at either of the last two meetings of conference. c) In the case of amendments to the constitution, incomplete in that it leaves unamended some other part of the constitution which contradicts the meaning of the amendment. d) In the case of amendments to standing orders, incomplete in that it leaves unamended some other part of standing orders which contradicts the meaning of the amendment. e) Ambiguous. 4.4 Emergency motions The Committee may reject an emergency motion if: a) It is similar in effect to another motion that has been selected for debate or ballot. b) It is similar in effect to a subject chosen for a topical issue discussion. c) It is unclear as to its meaning or intent or is, in the opinion of the Committee, too poorly drafted to provide a sensible basis for debate. d) It falls outside the definition of emergency motions. No amendment shall be taken to any motion selected under this Standing Order. 4.5 Ballots for emergency motions All emergency motions, except those rejected under Standing Order 4.4, must be placed either on the agenda for debate or in a ballot for selection by Conference. The Committee may hold separate ballots to select which of a range of emergency policy motions and which of a range of emergency business motions to debate. If one or more ballots is held the Committee shall circulate the text of all balloted motions to the representatives attending Conference as soon as practicable and shall specify a closing time for the ballot. Following the counting of any ballots the Committee shall decide how many motions shall be debated in the time available. 4.6 Emergency amendments The Committee shall have complete discretion whether to select emergency amendments for debate. 4.7 Topical issue discussions The choice of subjects for topical issue discussions shall be made by the Officers of the Committee in consultation with the Officers of the Federal Policy Committee. In choosing the subjects, the Officers shall have regard to the significance and topicality of the subjects proposed and whether they are likely to provoke a lively discussion. 5. Special Meetings 5.1 Timetabling of special meetings The Committee shall, as soon as practicable after the requisitioning of a special meeting of the conference, fix a date for the meeting, draw up the agenda and, if appropriate, specify a date for the submission of amendments. The meeting shall deal only with the business stated in the notice of requisition save that the Committee may allow time for emergency motions and for business which is formal or, in its opinion, uncontentious. 5.2 Preferred timescales for special meetings In setting dates for the submission of motions and amendments and giving notice thereof and of the conference itself the Committee shall endeavour to follow the timescales laid down elsewhere in these standing orders but, where this is not practicable, the Committee shall set such dates as it sees fit. 6. Appeals 6.1 Appeals against rejection of motions The Committee shall provide written reasoning to the nominee of the proposers for the rejection of any motion or amendment. The proposers may appeal, in writing, to the next meeting of the Committee. Any such appeal shall provide reasons why, in the opinion of the proposers, the expressed reasons for rejection are not valid. If the appeal is allowed, the motion or amendment shall be treated as an emergency motion or amendment according to the stage of the agenda-setting process at which the appeal has been allowed. 6.2 Appeals against exclusion from conference Any person excluded from conference by a decision of the Chief Steward shall have the right of appeal to the Committee at the next of its regular meetings. The exclusion shall remain in force pending the appeal. If the person who is excluded is a voting member of conference, their local party or SAO shall be contacted immediately and invited to appoint a substitute for the remainder of the conference. 7. The Chair 7.1 Who chairs conference The President, if present, shall normally take the chair at the formal opening and closing of conference and when the Party Leader is making a formal speech from the platform. At all other sessions the chair shall be appointed by the Committee. Normally no person shall chair more than one session at any meeting. 7.2 The chair's aide The Committee may appoint an aide or aides to assist the chair of each session. 8. Conduct of Debate 8.1 Variation in the order of business The Committee may propose to the conference a variation in the order of business as set out in the agenda. Such variation shall be put to the vote and shall take effect if approved by a majority of those voting. 8.2 Withdrawal of motions and amendments Once the Committee has included a motion or amendment, or part of a motion or amendment, in the agenda, may not be withdrawn except by leave of conference. 8.3 The order of debate The Committee shall direct the order of debate. Generally, however, a motion will be moved and immediately thereafter the amendments and options will be moved in the order directed by the Committee. There will then be a general debate. The movers of amendments and options (or their nominees) shall have the right of reply in the same order (except that where an amendment or option has not been opposed during the debate, the chair of the session shall have the right to direct that its movers shall not exercise their right of reply), after which the mover of the motion (or the mover's nominee) shall have the right of reply. Votes shall then be taken on the amendments and options in the order in which they have been moved and, finally, on the substantive motion. The Committee may direct that part of any motion or amendment or groups or amendments may be the subject of a separate debate. 8.4 Topical issue discussions The Committee shall direct the order of the discussion. Normally the proposer of the subject shall speak first, and a representative of the Federal Policy Committee shall speak last. 8.5 Who may speak Only voting or non-voting members may speak at a full session of conference, save that other persons may speak in the following circumstances: a) As a member of the Federal Policy Committee representing that committee in a policy debate. b) As a member of the Federal Conference Committee representing that committee in debates on standing orders and matters of conference procedure. c) As a member of the Federal Executive representing that committee on matters of party business. d) If called by the chair of the session, after the Committee has given permission. Such permission shall only be given exceptionally. Additionally the Committee may invite any person to address the conference as a guest. 8.6 The special rights of the Federal Committees Provided that the Federal Policy Committee is not proposing the motion or any of the amendments to be taken in a debate on a policy motion or on motions relating to the policy-making processes of the Party it shall have the right to nominate a person to report its views on the subject before the conference. The Federal Executive shall have similar rights on business motions or motions to amend the constitution, as shall the Federal Conference Committee on motions relating to the proceeding and procedures of the conference and to amend standing orders. Such a person shall be called to speak for the same length of time as the person replying on behalf of the mover of the motion. 8.7 The selection of speakers Voting and non-voting members wishing to speak in any debate shall submit a speaker's card, prior to the commencement of the debate in which they wish to speak, stating whether they wish to speak for or against an amendment, the motion or part of the motion. The chair shall be responsible for the choice of the speakers and shall attempt to provide a balanced debate between the different viewpoints in the conference, but may announce a departure from this rule if there is an overwhelming preponderance of members wishing to speak on the same side. The chair shall have the discretion to accept speakers' cards after the start of the debate. Save as provided for in these standing orders, no person may speak more than once in any debate. 8.8 The length of speeches The Committee shall set out in the agenda time limits for speeches. 9. Voting at Conference 9.1 The method of voting Voting cards shall be issued at each meeting to voting members. The Committee may direct that voting on any issue be by ballot. Subject thereto all votes at full sessions shall be taken by show of voting cards. 9.2 Counting of votes A vote by show of voting cards shall be counted: a) If the Committee has so directed. b) If the chair so directs. c) As the result of a procedural motion under Standing Order 11.5 below. A recount will only be held if the chair is not satisfied that the first count was accurate. 9.3 Separate votes A separate vote may be taken on a part of a motion or amendment: a) On the direction of the Committee. b) At the discretion of the chair. c) As a result of a procedural motion under Standing Order 11.4 below. 10 Points of Order 10.1 Making a point of order Any voting member may rise on a point of order which shall be taken immediately except that, during a vote, no point of order shall be taken that does not refer to the conduct of the vote. The chair's decision on all points of order shall be final. 11 Procedural Motions 11.1 Next business a) A voting member may, during any full conference session, submit, in writing, a request that conference move to next business, giving the reasons to do so. The submission shall not exceed 75 words. b) The chair may either take the request immediately upon receipt, or at the end of any speech currently being made. If more than one request is received the chair shall decide which to take. No more than one request may be taken in respect to any motion or report. c) When the request is to be taken, the chair shall read the statement of reasons and ask conference whether it wishes to consider the request to move to next business. If conference decides, by a simple majority of those voting, to do so, the person who made the request may speak. The chair may allow other speakers. All speeches under this standing order shall be limited to two minutes. If conference decides not to debate the proposal, it falls. d) The proposal shall require a two-thirds majority of those voting being to be passed. If it is carried the current agenda item shall be abandoned without any further debate or vote and, at the discretion of the chair, either the next agenda item shall be taken or there shall be an adjournment until the time at which the next agenda item was due to be taken. 11.2 Reference back (moved by a representative) a) A voting member, who has not already spoken in the debate, may, at any time before the chair has asked the first speaker in reply to stand by, submit, in writing, a request to refer back the motion under debate. The submission shall state to whom the motion is to be referred and shall include a statement of the reasons, including reasons why voting against the motion would not achieve a similar result, not exceeding 75 words. b) The chair may take the request to refer back at whatever stage of the debate they consider appropriate. If more than one request is received, the chair shall decide which to take. No more than one request may be taken with respect to any motion. c) When the request is to be taken, the chair shall read the statement of reasons and ask conference whether it wishes to consider the request to refer. If conference decides, by a simple majority of those voting, to do so, the person who made the request may speak and the mover of the substantive motion, or their nominee, may reply. The chair may allow other speakers. All speeches under this standing order shall be limited to two minutes. If conference decides not to debate the reference back, it falls. d) The reference back shall require a simple majority of those voting to be passed. If it is carried the current agenda item shall be abandoned without any further debate or vote and, at the discretion of the chair, either the next agenda item shall be taken or there shall be an adjournment until the time at which the next agenda item was due to be taken. e) If the substantive motion is referred to the Federal Executive, the Federal Policy Committee or the Federal Conference Committee that body shall, in its report to the next meeting of the conference, state what action it has taken on the reference. 11.3 Reference back (moved by the Federal Policy Committee) a) The Federal Policy Committee may, at any time before the beginning of the debate on a motion, submit, in writing, a request to refer that motion to the next meeting of the conference. The chair shall announce the existence of such a request at the start of the debate. b) The chair may take the request to refer back at whatever stage of the debate they consider appropriate. A nominee of the Federal Policy Committee will speak and the mover of the substantive motion, or their nominee, may reply. The chair shall have discretion whether to allow other speakers on the request. c) The reference back shall require a simple majority of those voting to be passed. If it is carried the current agenda item shall be abandoned without any further debate or vote and, at the discretion of the chair, either the next agenda item shall be taken or there shall be an adjournment until the time at which the next agenda item was due to be taken. d) If passed, the Federal Policy Committee shall, before the next meeting of the conference, circulate its reasons for acting under this section and its comments on the motion and any amendments thereto accepted for debate. 11.4 Separate vote A voting member of conference may request that the chair take a separate vote on a part of a motion or amendment provided that such a request is in writing and received by the commencement of the first conference session on the day before the debate is scheduled. If the debate is scheduled for the first day of conference, the request must be received in writing by the same deadline as that for emergency motions. The Committee shall have complete discretion whether to take a separate vote. In exceptional circumstances, the Chair of the debate shall have discretion to accept a request for a separate vote if it is received in writing after this deadline. 11.5 Counted vote Any voting member may ask for a counted vote, which shall be taken if the request is supported by 50 members rising in their places and showing their voting cards. 11.6 Suspension of standing orders a) A voting conference member may, during any full conference session, move a motion for the suspension of standing orders. The mover shall submit the motion together with a written statement of its purpose, not exceeding 75 words, to the chair, who shall read them to the meeting. The chair may either take the request immediately upon receipt, or at the end of the speech currently being made. b) No motion to suspend standing orders may suspend any requirement of the constitution, nor any part of these standing orders which govern: i) The rights of, or timetable for, submission of motions and amendments. ii) Consultative sessions. iii) Procedural motions for next business or suspension of standing orders. c) No motion to suspend standing orders to introduce a motion or amendment on to the agenda can be taken unless the motion or amendment has been submitted to the Committee in accordance with the published timetable and, where a right of appeal against non-selection exists, the right has been exercised. d) The chair shall read the statement of purpose and, if the suspension is allowable in the terms of this standing order, ask the conference whether it wishes to debate the request for suspension. If the conference decides not to debate the request, it falls. If the conference decides, by a majority of those present and voting, to hear the request the mover may speak and a representative of the Committee may reply. The chair shall have the discretion to allow other speakers. All speeches on the motion to suspend standing orders will be limited to two minutes. e) A motion to suspend standing orders shall only be carried if supported by at least two-thirds of the conference members voting. If the procedural motion is carried all standing orders shall remain in force except only for the purposes set out in the motion. 11.7 No procedural motions during votes No procedural motion can be moved during a vote. 12 Reports 12.1 Which reports are tabled The business session or sessions of the conference must include consideration of reports from the bodies listed in Standing Order 1.1(b). 12.2 Submission and selection of questions A voting member may submit questions to any report tabled for consideration, by the deadlines set under Standing Orders 1.5 (d) and (e). The Committee shall publish in advance of the report session all the questions submitted under Standing Order 1.5 (d) which are in order, compositing similar questions where appropriate. 12.3 Whether questions are in order or not A question shall be ruled out of order if it asks the body submitting the report about issues which are outside its duties and responsibilities. If the question could be answered by another body reporting to the same conference, the Committee may transfer the question to that body. 12.4 How questions and supplementary questions are put and answered After the report is moved, the mover, or their nominee, shall answer the questions in turn. After each question has been answered, the voting member who submitted the question will be given the opportunity to put a supplementary question, speaking for a maximum of two minutes, and the mover, or their nominee, will be given an opportunity to respond. The chair shall determine the time given to the mover in moving the report and replying to questions. The chair shall also determine how many of the published questions, and how many of the questions submitted under Standing Order 1.5 (e), can be taken. After the conference the Committee shall publish the answers to all questions submitted under Standing Orders 1.5 (d) and (e) which are in order, and to all supplementary questions asked. 12.5 Approval or rejection of reports from Federal Party committees or sub-committees Any report tabled by a Federal Party committee or sub-committee must be submitted for approval by the conference and must be voted upon accordingly. A voting member may move the rejection of any part of the report or of the report as a whole. A voting member wishing to move a rejection shall submit a speaker's card prior to the commencement of the consideration of the report, stating the section(s) which they wish to have rejected. All moves to reject a report must be debated (except that the chair shall have discretion to choose between moves to reject the same part of the report), at the conclusion of the question session. The person who made the request shall speak and the mover of the report, or their nominee, shall reply. The chair may allow other speakers, and shall determine the time given to all speakers. 12.6 Receipt of reports from other bodies Any report tabled by a body other than a Federal Party committee or sub-committee must be submitted for receipt by the conference and must be voted upon accordingly. A voting member may move not to receive the report, by submitting a speaker's card prior to the commencement of the consideration of the report. A move not to receive a report must be debated (except that the chair shall have discretion to choose between more than one move not to receive the same report), at the conclusion of the question session. The person who made the request shall speak and the mover of the report, or their nominee, shall reply. The chair may allow other speakers, and shall determine the time given to all speakers. 13 Amendment of Standing Orders 13.1 Amendment of standing orders These standing orders may be amended by a two-thirds majority of members of conference voting on a motion duly submitted and selected in accordance with standing orders. Subject to any amendment they shall remain in force from meeting to meeting. 14 The Chair and Vice Chairs of the Committee 14.1 Chair and Vice Chairs At its first meeting after a new election the Committee shall elect a Chair, who must be a member of the Committee directly elected by conference, and at least one Vice Chair, who must be members of the Committee either directly elected by conference or elected by one of the State Parties. The Federal Party Officers Of The Federal Party Leader Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP President Tim Farron MP Chair of FFAC Cllr Duncan Greenland Treasurer Richard Duncalf Vice President (England) Jonathan Davies Vice President (Scotland) Craig Harrow Vice President (Wales) John Last CBE Chief Executive Chris Fox Federal Executive The FE is responsible for directing, co-ordinating and implementing the work of the Federal Party, including overall strategy, campaigning, organisation and staffing. The Federal Finance and Administration Committee and the Campaigns and Communications Committee both report to the FE. The FE has 29 voting members: the Party President (who chairs it) and three Vice Presidents; the Leader and two other MPs; one peer; one MEP; two councillors; three state party reps; and fifteen members directly elected by conference reps. Federal Finance And Administration Committee The FFAC is responsible for planning and administering the budget and finances of the Federal Party, directing its administration and ensuring its compliance with the provisions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. It is responsible to the FE, but also reports directly to the Federal Conference. The FFAC has 14 voting members: the Chair (Cllr Duncan Greenland), Party Treasurer and five other members (elected by the FE); the Party President; three state party reps; and the Chief Executive and two other members of Federal (HQ and Parliamentary) staff. Federal Policy Committee The FPC is responsible for researching and developing policy and overseeing the Federal Party's policy-making process. This includes producing policy papers for debate at conference, and drawing up (in consultation with the relevant parliamentary party) the Federal election manifestos for Westminster and European elections. The FPC has 29 voting members: the Party Leader and four other MPs; the Party President; one peer; one MEP; three councillors; three state party reps; and fifteen members directly elected by conference reps. It must be chaired by one of the five MP members, and is currently chaired by the Leader. Federal Conference Committee The FCC is responsible for organising the two Federal conferences each year. This includes choosing the agenda from the policy and business motions submitted by conference reps, local, regional and state parties, specified associated organisations and Federal committees, and taking decisions on topics such as venues, registration rates and other administrative and organisational matters. It works within a budget set by the FFAC. The FCC has 21 voting members: the Party President; the Chief Whip; three state party reps; two reps from the FE and two from the FPC; and twelve members directly elected by conference reps. It elects its own chair, who must be one of the directly elected or state party reps. The members of the FCC are shown on page 2.