Votes and Proceedings

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
Publications on the internet

House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Monday 28th February 2000

The House met at half-past Two o'clock.

PRAYERS.

1 Death of a Member,—The Speaker made the following communication to the House:

    I regret to have to report to the House the death of Michael Keith Beale Colvin, Esquire, Member for Romsey. I am sure that Members on all sides of the House will join me in mourning the loss of a colleague and in extending our sympathy to the honourable Member's family and friends.

2 Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

    The Lords have agreed to the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (Amendment of Rules) Bill, without Amendment.

3 Royal Parks (Trading) Bill,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 90 (Second reading committees), That the Royal Parks (Trading) Bill be referred to a Second Reading Committee—(Mr David Clelland):—It was agreed to.

4 Defence White Paper,—The Order of the day being read, for resuming the adjourned Debate on the Question proposed on 22nd February, That this House approves the 1999 Defence White Paper (Cm. 4446);

    And the Question being again proposed, That this House approves the 1999 Defence White Paper (Cm. 4446):—The House resumed the adjourned Debate.

    An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 2, to leave out from the word 'House' to the end of the Question and add the words 'declines to approve a defence policy which has been used to make war upon innocent civilians in Iraq and Yugoslavia under NATO command, contrary to the provisions of the United Nations Charter, without any explicit authorization by the House of Commons elected to exercise democratic control over the Government of the day, which involves the use of cluster bombs, and which is based upon the possession of, and threat to use, nuclear weapons, which have been declared illegal by both the International Court of Justice and a Scottish court', instead thereof.—(Alice Mahon.)

    And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made;

    The House divided.

    Tellers for the Ayes, Mr John McDonnell, Mr Jeremy Corbyn: 12.

    Tellers for the Noes, Mr Mike Hall, Mr Robert Ainsworth: 340.

    So the Question was negatived.

    And the Main Question being put;

    The House divided.

    Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Mike Hall, Mr Robert Ainsworth: 348.

    Tellers for the Noes, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr Peter Luff: 149.

    So the Question was agreed to.

    Resolved, That this House approves the 1999 Defence White Paper (Cm. 4446).

5 Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for the Third Reading of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill;

    A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Order [7th February], That the Bill be now read the third time;

    The House divided.

    Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Robert Ainsworth, Mr Mike Hall: 317.

    Tellers for the Noes, Mr Edward Leigh, Dr Julian Lewis: 117.

    So the Question was agreed to.

    The Bill was accordingly read the third time, and passed.

6 Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr David Jamieson.)

    And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till four minutes past Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 11.04 p.m.

Betty Boothroyd
Speaker

Madam Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Two o'clock.

APPENDIX I

Papers presented by Her Majesty's Command and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned dates during the adjournment pursuant to Standing Order No. 158 (Presentation of command papers):

Wednesday 23rd February 2000

1 Treaty Series (No. 3, 2000),—Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Poland, done at Brussels on 16th December 1997 [Cm. 4584] [Mr Secretary Cook].

2 Treaty Series (No. 4, 2000),—Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Hungary, done at Brussels on 16th December 1997 [Cm. 4585] [Mr Secretary Cook].

3 Treaty Series (No. 5, 2000),—Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Czech Republic, done at Brussels on 16th December 1997 [Cm. 4586] [Mr Secretary Cook].

Friday 25th February 2000

4 Miscellaneous (No. 3, 2000),—Agreement, done at Istanbul on 19th November 1999, on Adaptation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Cm. 4630] [Mr Secretary Cook].

5 Treaty Series (No. 7, 2000),—Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty, opened for signature at Strasbourg on 28th April 1983 [Cm. 4596] [Mr Secretary Cook].

6 Treaty Series (No. 14, 2000),—Exchange of Notes, done at London on 10th and 21st July 1997, amending the Headquarters Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the International Cocoa Organization [Cm. 4628] [Mr Secretary Cook].

Papers delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned dates during the adjournment pursuant to Standing Order No. 159 (Presentation of statutory instruments):

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

Wednesday 23rd February 2000

7 London Government,—Greater London Authority Elections (No. 2) Rules 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 427), dated 23rd February 2000 [Mr Secretary Prescott].

Thursday 24th February 2000

8 Channel Tunnel,—Channel Tunnel (Alcoholic Liquor and Tobacco Products) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 426), dated 23rd February 2000 [Mr Stephen Timms].

9 Land Registration,—Land Registration Rules 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 429), dated 17th February 2000 [Mr David Lock].

10 Legal Aid and Advice,—Legal Aid in Criminal and Care Proceedings (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 431), dated 21st February 2000 [Mr David Lock].

11 Sea Fisheries,—Sea Fishing (Enforcement of Measures for the Recovery of the Stock of Cod) (Irish Sea) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 435), dated 24th February 2000 [Mr Nicholas Brown].

Friday 25th February 2000

12 Council Tax,—Valuation Tribunals (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 409), dated 18th February 2000 [Mr Secretary Prescott].

13 Education,—Education (Grants) (Royal Ballet School) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 443), dated 24th February 2000 [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

14 Legal Aid and Advice,—Civil Legal Aid (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 451) dated 22nd February 2000 [Mr David Lock].

15 Legal Services Commission,—(1) Community Legal Service (Costs) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 441), and

    (2) Legal Services Commission (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 442),

dated 18th February 2000 [Mr David Lock].

Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 28th February:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

16 Access to Justice,—Funding Code prepared by the Legal Services Commission in accordance with section 8 of the Access to Justice Act 1999 and as first approved by the Lord Chancellor in accordance with section 9(4) of that Act [by Act] [Mr David Lock].

17 London Government,—Draft Greater London Authority Elections (Expenses) Order 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

18 Northern Ireland,—Draft Appropriation (Northern Ireland) Order 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Mandelson].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

19 Education,—Financing of Maintained Schools (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 478), dated 25th February 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

20 Public Passenger Transport,—Croydon Tramlink (Penalty Fares) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 476, dated 28th February 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

21 Universities of Oxford and Cambridge,—Statute, dated 18th October 1999, made by the Governing Body of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, amending the Statutes of the College [by Act] [Margaret Beckett].

Other Papers:

22 International Monetary Fund,—Proposed Fourth Amendment to the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund [by Command] [Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer].

23 Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors,—Account of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 192] [Mr Secretary Milburn].

24 School Standards and Framework,—Accounts of the:—

    (1) East Brighton Education Action Zone, and

    (2) Thetford Education Action Zone

for 1998-99, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 279 and 278] [Clerk of the House].

25 Science and Technology,—Accounts of the Medical Research Council for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 280] [Clerk of the House].

26 Social Security Administration,—Account of the National Insurance Fund for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 146] [Clerk of the House].

27 United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board,—Accounts of the UK Ecolabelling Board for 1st April 1998 to 19th April 1999 [by Statutory Instrument] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

APPENDIX II

Reports from Select Committees

1 Agriculture,—Third Report from the Agriculture Committee [The Segregation of GM Foods], together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 71] [Mr David Curry].

2 Public Accounts,—(1) Tenth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts [Excess Votes 1998-99]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 282];

    (2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [English Partnerships: Assisting Local Regeneration]; to be printed [No. 283-i]

[Mr David Davis].

3 Trade and Industry,—(1) Fifth Report from the Trade and Industry Committee [Dounreay: Progress Report), together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 281]; and

    (2) Sixth Report from the Committee [Application for Support from ECGD for UK Participation in the Ilisu Dam Project], together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 200]

[Mr Martin O'Neill].

The House met at half-past Two o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1	Death of a Member,—The Speaker made the following communication to the House:
	I regret to have to report to the House the death of Michael Keith Beale Colvin, Esquire, Member for Romsey. I am sure that Members on all sides of the House will join me in mourning the loss of a colleague and in extending our sympathy to the honourable Member's family and friends.
2	Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:
	The Lords have agreed to the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (Amendment of Rules) Bill, without Amendment.
3	Royal Parks (Trading) Bill,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 90 (Second reading committees), That the Royal Parks (Trading) Bill be referred to a Second Reading Committee—(Mr David Clelland):—It was agreed to.
4	Defence White Paper,—The Order of the day being read, for resuming the adjourned Debate on the Question proposed on 22nd February, That this House approves the 1999 Defence White Paper (Cm. 4446);
	And the Question being again proposed, That this House approves the 1999 Defence White Paper (Cm. 4446):—The House resumed the adjourned Debate.
	An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 2, to leave out from the word 'House' to the end of the Question and add the words 'declines to approve a defence policy which has been used to make war upon innocent civilians in Iraq and Yugoslavia under NATO command, contrary to the provisions of the United Nations Charter, without any explicit authorization by the House of Commons elected to exercise democratic control over the Government of the day, which involves the use of cluster bombs, and which is based upon the possession of, and threat to use, nuclear weapons, which have been declared illegal by both the International Court of Justice and a Scottish court', instead thereof.—(Alice Mahon.)
	And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made;
	The House divided.
	Tellers for the Ayes, Mr John McDonnell, Mr Jeremy Corbyn: 12.
	Tellers for the Noes, Mr Mike Hall, Mr Robert Ainsworth: 340.
	So the Question was negatived.
	And the Main Question being put;
	The House divided.
	Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Mike Hall, Mr Robert Ainsworth: 348.
	Tellers for the Noes, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr Peter Luff: 149.
	So the Question was agreed to.
	Resolved, That this House approves the 1999 Defence White Paper (Cm. 4446).
5	Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for the Third Reading of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill;
	A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Order [7th February], That the Bill be now read the third time;
	The House divided.
	Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Robert Ainsworth, Mr Mike Hall: 317.
	Tellers for the Noes, Mr Edward Leigh, Dr Julian Lewis: 117.
	So the Question was agreed to.
	The Bill was accordingly read the third time, and passed.
6	Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr David Jamieson.)
	And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till four minutes past Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.
[Adjourned at 11.04 p.m.
*Betty Boothroyd* *Speaker*
Madam Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Two o'clock.
APPENDIX I
Papers presented by Her Majesty's Command and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned dates during the adjournment pursuant to Standing Order No. 158 (Presentation of command papers):
Wednesday 23rd February 2000
1	Treaty Series (No. 3, 2000),—Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Poland, done at Brussels on 16th December 1997 [Cm. 4584] [Mr Secretary Cook].
2	Treaty Series (No. 4, 2000),—Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Hungary, done at Brussels on 16th December 1997 [Cm. 4585] [Mr Secretary Cook].
3	Treaty Series (No. 5, 2000),—Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Czech Republic, done at Brussels on 16th December 1997 [Cm. 4586] [Mr Secretary Cook].
Friday 25th February 2000
4	Miscellaneous (No. 3, 2000),—Agreement, done at Istanbul on 19th November 1999, on Adaptation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Cm. 4630] [Mr Secretary Cook].
5	Treaty Series (No. 7, 2000),—Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty, opened for signature at Strasbourg on 28th April 1983 [Cm. 4596] [Mr Secretary Cook].
6	Treaty Series (No. 14, 2000),—Exchange of Notes, done at London on 10th and 21st July 1997, amending the Headquarters Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the International Cocoa Organization [Cm. 4628] [Mr Secretary Cook].
Papers delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned dates during the adjournment pursuant to Standing Order No. 159 (Presentation of statutory instruments):
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Wednesday 23rd February 2000
7	London Government,—Greater London Authority Elections (No. 2) Rules 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 427), dated 23rd February 2000 [Mr Secretary Prescott].
Thursday 24th February 2000
8	Channel Tunnel,—Channel Tunnel (Alcoholic Liquor and Tobacco Products) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 426), dated 23rd February 2000 [Mr Stephen Timms].
9	Land Registration,—Land Registration Rules 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 429), dated 17th February 2000 [Mr David Lock].
10	Legal Aid and Advice,—Legal Aid in Criminal and Care Proceedings (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 431), dated 21st February 2000 [Mr David Lock].
11	Sea Fisheries,—Sea Fishing (Enforcement of Measures for the Recovery of the Stock of Cod) (Irish Sea) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 435), dated 24th February 2000 [Mr Nicholas Brown].
Friday 25th February 2000
12	Council Tax,—Valuation Tribunals (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 409), dated 18th February 2000 [Mr Secretary Prescott].
13	Education,—Education (Grants) (Royal Ballet School) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 443), dated 24th February 2000 [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
14	Legal Aid and Advice,—Civil Legal Aid (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 451) dated 22nd February 2000 [Mr David Lock].
15	Legal Services Commission,—(1) Community Legal Service (Costs) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 441), and
	(2) Legal Services Commission (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 442),
	dated 18th February 2000 [Mr David Lock].
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 28th February:
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
16	Access to Justice,—Funding Code prepared by the Legal Services Commission in accordance with section 8 of the Access to Justice Act 1999 and as first approved by the Lord Chancellor in accordance with section 9(4) of that Act [by Act] [Mr David Lock].
17	London Government,—Draft Greater London Authority Elections (Expenses) Order 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].
18	Northern Ireland,—Draft Appropriation (Northern Ireland) Order 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Mandelson].
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
19	Education,—Financing of Maintained Schools (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 478), dated 25th February 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
20	Public Passenger Transport,—Croydon Tramlink (Penalty Fares) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 476, dated 28th February 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].
21	Universities of Oxford and Cambridge,—Statute, dated 18th October 1999, made by the Governing Body of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, amending the Statutes of the College [by Act] [Margaret Beckett].
Other Papers:
22	International Monetary Fund,—Proposed Fourth Amendment to the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund [by Command] [Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer].
23	Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors,—Account of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 192] [Mr Secretary Milburn].
24	School Standards and Framework,—Accounts of the:—
	(1) East Brighton Education Action Zone, and
	(2) Thetford Education Action Zone
	for 1998-99, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 279 and 278] [Clerk of the House].
25	Science and Technology,—Accounts of the Medical Research Council for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 280] [Clerk of the House].
26	Social Security Administration,—Account of the National Insurance Fund for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 146] [Clerk of the House].
27	United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board,—Accounts of the UK Ecolabelling Board for 1st April 1998 to 19th April 1999 [by Statutory Instrument] [Mr Secretary Prescott].
APPENDIX II
Reports from Select Committees
1	Agriculture,—Third Report from the Agriculture Committee [The Segregation of GM Foods], together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 71] [Mr David Curry].
2	Public Accounts,—(1) Tenth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts [Excess Votes 1998-99]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 282];
	(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [English Partnerships: Assisting Local Regeneration]; to be printed [No. 283-i]
	[Mr David Davis].
3	Trade and Industry,—(1) Fifth Report from the Trade and Industry Committee [Dounreay: Progress Report), together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 281]; and
	(2) Sixth Report from the Committee [Application for Support from ECGD for UK Participation in the Ilisu Dam Project], together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 200]
	[Mr Martin O'Neill].



© Parliamentary copyright 2000	Revised 28 February 2000