| The House met at half-past Two o'clock. |
| PRAYERS. |
| 1 | City of London (Ward Elections) Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for further consideration of the City of London (Ward Elections) Bill, as amended by the Chairman of Ways and Means; |
| | Ordered, That the Bill be further considered on Wednesday 7th June. |
| 2 | Railtrack (Waverley Station) Order Confirmation Bill,—The Railtrack (Waverley Station) Order Confirmation Bill was, according to Order, read a second time; and ordered to be considered. |
| 3 | Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,—Sir David Madel reported from the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the Government's Assessment as set out in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2000-01, and the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report 2000-01, for the purposes of section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993. |
| | Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table. |
| 4 | Strategic Export Controls (Breach of Embargo),—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to prohibit the involvement of British subjects and companies and other persons under United Kingdom jurisdiction in the supply of armaments and associated items to countries to which arms embargoes apply: And that Mr Harry Cohen, Mr Harry Barnes, Ann Clwyd, Mr Jeremy Corbyn, Mr Jim Cousins, Mr Jimmy Hood, Ms Jenny Jones, Laura Moffatt, Mr Brian Sedgemore, Mr Alan Simpson and Dr Phyllis Starkey do prepare and bring it in. |
| 5 | Strategic Export Controls (Breach of Embargo) Bill,—Mr Harry Cohen accordingly presented a Bill to prohibit the involvement of British subjects and companies and other persons under United Kingdom jurisdiction in the supply of armaments and associated items to countries to which arms embargoes apply: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 9th June and to be printed [Bill 135]. |
| 6 | Opposition Day [11th allotted day],—It being an allotted day at the disposal of the Leader of the Opposition in pursuance of Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business), the House proceeded to consider Opposition business. |
| | Government Policies on Tackling Crime,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House regrets that police strength in England and Wales has fallen by more than 2,300 since the Government came to power, that crime is now rising, and that the Government has released early from prison thousands of drug dealers, sex offenders, burglars and violent criminals; notes the criticism of the Government's crime reduction targets, and further that police officers are unable to devote much of their time to fighting crime because of unnecessary bureaucracy; notes with surprise that none of the Government's local child curfews have been issued and that anti-social behaviour orders have been issued at the rate of less than one per week since they became available; further notes that, in contrast to the Government's failure to tackle crime, the Opposition propose to reverse the decline in police numbers that has occurred since the Government came to power, to provide effective and appropriate punishment and rehabilitation for offenders and to put the interests of victims at the heart of the criminal justice system; calls on the Home Secretary to reconsider his proposed changes to Immigration Rule 320(18) that would remove the prohibition on foreign sex offenders and drug traffickers entering the United Kingdom; and calls on the Government to work to restore public confidence in the criminal justice system and the police, to restore police morale, and to implement effective policies to tackle rising crime—(Miss Ann Widdecombe); |
| | 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 'welcomes the fact that recorded crime has fallen by 7 per cent. since March 1997, with domestic burglary down by 20 per cent. and vehicle crime down by 14 per cent.; applauds the Government's investment to boost police recruitment; supports the Government's strategy for tackling crime and the causes of crime through better prevention, improving the performance of crime and disorder partnerships, the police and the criminal justice system, more effective punishment of offenders and securing greater support and protection for victims and witnesses; backs the radical reforms of the youth justice system, including swifter punishment for persistent offenders; and notes that all this is in sharp contrast to the record of the previous administration when crime doubled and the number of offenders convicted fell by a third', instead thereof.—(Mr Secretary Straw.) |
| | And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question; |
| | |
| | Tellers for the Ayes, Mrs Eleanor Laing, Mr Peter Luff: 138.
|
| | Tellers for the Noes, Mr Mike Hall, Mr David Jamieson: 358.
|
| | So the Question was negatived. |
| | And the Question, That the proposed words be there added, being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 31 (Questions on amendments):—It was agreed to. |
| | The Deputy Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to. |
| | Resolved, That this House welcomes the fact that recorded crime has fallen by 7 per cent. since March 1997, with domestic burglary down by 20 per cent. and vehicle crime down by 14 per cent.; applauds the Government's investment to boost police recruitment; supports the Government's strategy for tackling crime and the causes of crime through better prevention, improving the performance of crime and disorder partnerships, the police and the criminal justice system, more effective punishment of offenders and securing greater support and protection for victims and witnesses; backs the radical reforms of the youth justice system, including swifter punishment for persistent offenders; and notes that all this is in sharp contrast to the record of the previous administration when crime doubled and the number of offenders convicted fell by a third. |
| | Transport Taxation, Spending and Investment,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes that, while government spending on transport has fallen in comparison with the period before the 1997 General Election, taxation on the motorist has been raised to record levels, so that £1 in every £7 now spent by the Government is raised from the motorist; condemns the Government for presiding over ever-worsening congestion without any policies to deal with continuing road traffic growth; welcomes the increasing investment in transport industries that were privatised during the previous administration; laments the failure of the Government to build on these achievements and that total public and private investment levels in transport are still well below what is required by people, business and industry; and condemns ministers for failing to secure increased funding for anything except for the growing costs of running the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions which is the Government's largest and least effective Department of State—(Mr Bernard Jenkin); |
| | 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 'welcomes the fact that the Government has substantially increased spending on transport from the levels planned by the previous Government; notes that this Government ended the automatic fuel duty escalator begun by the previous Government; deplores the previous Government's record of under-investment in transport, which left an investment backlog in important areas like road maintenance, rail and London Underground; notes that under the last Government the number of cars per mile of road went up from 70 to 100, that yearly carbon dioxide emissions from road transport increased by 26 per cent. and that by May 1997 Railtrack was £700 million behind on its rail investment and maintenance programme; and welcomes the Government's approach on an integrated transport strategy which will be delivered by an integrated Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and its plans to increase spending and modernise the transport system further through its Ten Year Plan for transport investment', instead thereof.—(Mr Nick Raynsford.) |
| | And the Question being proposed, That the original words stand part of the Question; |
| | Mr James Arbuthnot rose in his place and claimed to move, That the Question be now put. |
| | And the Question being put, That the Question be now put:—It was agreed to. |
| | And the Question being accordingly put; |
| | |
| | Tellers for the Ayes, Mr John Randall, Mrs Eleanor Laing: 130.
|
| | Tellers for the Noes, Mr Clive Betts, Mr Robert Ainsworth: 349.
|
| | So the Question was negatived. |
| | And the Question, That the proposed words be there added, being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 31 (Questions on amendments); |
| | |
| | Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Clive Betts, Mr Robert Ainsworth: 308.
|
| | Tellers for the Noes, Mr John Randall, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 163.
|
| | So the Question was agreed to. |
| | The Deputy Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to. |
| | Resolved, That this House welcomes the fact that the Government has substantially increased spending on transport from the levels planned by the previous Government; notes that this Government ended the automatic fuel duty escalator begun by the previous Government; deplores the previous Government's record of under-investment in transport, which left an investment backlog in important areas like road maintenance, rail and London Underground; notes that under the last Government the number of cars per mile of road went up from 70 to 100, that yearly carbon dioxide emissions from road transport increased by 26 per cent. and that by May 1997 Railtrack was £700 million behind on its rail investment and maintenance programme; and welcomes the Government's approach on an integrated transport strategy which will be delivered by an integrated Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and its plans to increase spending and modernise the transport system further through its Ten Year Plan for transport investment. |
| 7 | Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Bill [Lords],—The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Bill [Lords]; |
| | And a Motion being made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 58 (Consolidation of bills), That the Bill be now read a second time; |
| | |
| | Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Clive Betts, Mr Mike Hall: 325.
|
| | Tellers for the Noes, Mr Eric Forth, Mr Edward Leigh: 6.
|
| | So the Question was agreed to. |
| | The Bill was accordingly read a second time. |
| | And a Motion being made, and the Question being put forthwith, That the Bill be not committed—(Mr David Clelland):—It was agreed to. |
| | And a Motion being made, and the Question being put forthwith, That the Bill be now read the third time:—It was agreed to. |
| | The Bill was accordingly read the third time, and passed, without Amendment. |
| 8 | Terms and Conditions of Employment,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000, which were laid before this House on 3rd May, be approved—(Mr David Clelland):—It was agreed to. |
| 9 | London Government,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Greater London Authority (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2000, which was laid before this House on 19th April, be approved—(Mr David Clelland):—It was agreed to. |
| 10 | Constitutional Law,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Functions) Order 2000, which was laid before this House on 8th May, be approved—(Mr David Clelland):—It was agreed to. |
| 11 | Constitutional Law,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2000, which was laid before this House on 8th May, be approved—(Mr David Clelland):—It was agreed to. |
| 12 | Public Petitions,—Public Petitions from— |
| | (1) post office users in North-West Leicestershire against closures of sub-post offices; and |
| | (2) residents of Liverpool calling for stricter regulation of swimming pools |
| | were presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed. |
| 13 | Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr David Clelland.) |
| | And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till ten minutes past Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. |
| [Adjourned at 11.10 p.m. |
Betty Boothroyd
Speaker |
Madam Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Eleven o'clock.
|
| APPENDIX I |
| Papers presented or laid upon the Table: |
| Papers subject to Negative Resolution: |
| 1 | Customs and Excise,—Burma (Sale, Supply and Export of Goods) (Penalties) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1408), dated 24th May 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Byers]. |
| 2 | Education,—The College of Guidance Studies Higher Education Corporation (Dissolution) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1383), dated 19th May 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett]. |
| 3 | Horse Racing and Betting,—Horse Racing (Charges on Bookmakers) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000 (S.R. (N.I.), 2000, No. 184), dated 22nd May 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Mandelson]. |
| 4 | Immigration,—Immigration (Transit Visa) (Amendment) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1381), dated 19th May 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Straw]. |
| 5 | London Government,—(1) GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Islington) Designation Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1371), |
| | (2) GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Redbridge) Designation Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1372), |
| | (3) GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Richmond upon Thames) Desigation Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1373), |
| | (4) GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Southwark) Designation Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1374), |
| | (5) GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Sutton) Designation Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1375), |
| | (6) GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Tower Hamlets) Designation Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1376), |
| | (7) GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Waltham Forest) Designation Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1377), |
| | (8) GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Wandsworth) Designation Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1378), and |
| | (9) GLA Side Roads (City of Westminster) Designation Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1379), |
| | dated 18th May 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott]. |
| 6 | Social Security,—(1) Social Security (Claims and Payments) Amendment Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1366), and |
| | (2) Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1365), |
| | dated 18th May 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Darling]. |
| Other Papers: |
| 7 | Bank of England,—Report and Accounts of the Bank of England for the year ended 29th February 2000 [by Command] [Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer]. |
| 8 | Chiropractors,—Financial Statements of the General Chiropractic Council for 16th August 1998 to 31st July 1999 [by Act] [Margaret Beckett]. |
| 9 | Gas and Electricity,—Report of the Director General for Gas and Electricity Supply: Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) for 1999 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 477] [Mr Secretary Byers]. |
| 10 | Parliamentary Commissioner,—Fourth Report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, Session 1999-2000: Investigations Completed—November 1999 to March 2000 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 494] [Clerk of the House]. |
| 11 | Public Petitions,—Observations by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on— |
| | (1) the Petition [2nd February] from the Suffolk Pensioners' Association calling for the reduction of the TV licence fee for pensioners who will not be eligible for a free licence, and |
| | (2) the Petition [20th March] from residents of the constituency of Harwich calling for free television licences for all persons over the retirement age |
| | [by Standing Order] [Clerk of the House]. |
| 12 | Video Recordings,—Report and Accounts of the British Board of Film Classification for 1999 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Straw]. |
| APPENDIX II |
| Standing Committees |
| 1 | Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate Bill [Lords]: |
| | (1) The Speaker has allocated the Bill to Standing Committee B, and has appointed Mr Bill Olner Chairman; and |
| | (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Peter Atkinson, Mr Nigel Beard, Mr John Burnett, Christine Butler, Mr Ben Chapman, Mr Christopher Chope, Mr Solicitor General, Mr James Cran, Mr Andrew Dismore, Mr Michael Jabez Foster, Mr Edward Garnier, Mr Elfyn Llwyd, Mr Tony McNulty, Mr Austin Mitchell, Mr Patrick Nicholls, Mr Kerry Pollard, Mr Andrew Reed and Mr Anthony D. Wright. |
| 2 | Care Standards Bill [Lords]: |
| | (1) The Speaker has allocated the Bill to Standing Committee G, and has appointed Mr Roger Gale and Mr Eric Illsley Chairmen; and |
| | (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated twenty Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr David Amess, Dr Peter Brand, Mr Julian Brazier, Mr Paul Burstow, Mr Hilton Dawson, Maria Eagle, Caroline Flint, Mr Michael Jabez Foster, Mr Philip Hammond, Mr David Hanson, Ms Margaret Hodge, Mrs Joan Humble, Mr John Hutton, Mr David Jamieson, Miss Julie Kirkbride, Mr Stephen McCabe, Mr Jonathan R. Shaw, Mr John Smith, Mrs Caroline Spelman and Ms Gisela Stuart. |
| 3 | Draft Social Security and Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2000,—The Speaker has appointed Mr John Cummings Chairman of the Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the Regulations. |
| 4 | Draft Local Authority (Stocks and Bonds) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 and the draft Uncertified Securities (Amendment) Regulations 2000,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Andrew Welsh Chairman of the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the Regulations. |
| 5 | Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 and the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2000,—The Speaker has appointed Sir David Madel Chairman of the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the Regulations. |
| 6 | Draft Northern Ireland (Emergency and Prevention of Terrorism Provisions) (Continuance) Order 2000: |
| | (1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Seventh Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr George Stevenson Chairman; and |
| | (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr David Borrow, Mr Desmond Browne, Ms Karen Buck, Mr James Cran, Jim Dowd, Mrs Teresa Gorman, Mr Adam Ingram, Mr Bob Laxton, Mr Ken Maginnis, Mr Michael Mates, Mr Lembit Öpik, Joan Ruddock, Mr Mohammad Sarwar, Mr John M. Taylor, Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West) and Mr Mark Todd. |
| 7 | Draft Local Authority (Stocks and Bonds) (Amendment) Regulations 2000, and the draft Uncertified Securities (Amendment) Regulations 2000,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Ted Rowlands from the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations); and nominated in substitution Mr Kelvin Hopkins. |
| Grand Committees |
| 8 | The Speaker has appointed Mr John Maxton Chairman of the Scottish Grand Committee in respect of its meeting on 12th June. |
| European Standing Committees |
| 9 | European Union Document No. 7828/00, relating to Broad Economic Policy Guidelines, has been referred to European Standing Committee B. |
| APPENDIX III |
| Reports from Select Committees |
| 1 | Defence,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Defence Committee [Annual Major Procurement Projects]; to be printed [No. 528-ii] [Mr Bruce George]. |
| 2 | Education and Employment,—(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education Sub-Committee of the Education and Employment Committee [Early Years Education]; to be printed [No. 386-iv] [Mr Barry Sheerman]; and |
| | (2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Employment Sub-Committee of the Committee [Recruiting Unemployed People]; to be printed [No. 533-i] [Mr Derek Foster]. |
| 3 | Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs,—(1) Eighth Report from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee [Light Rapid Transport Systems], together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Transport Sub-Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 153]; |
| | (2) Ninth Report from the Committee [Travelling Fairs], 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 [Nos. 284-I and -III]; and |
| | (3) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Transport Sub-Committee of the Committee [Air Service Agreements between the United Kingdom and the United States]; to be printed [No. 532-i] |
| | |
| 4 | European Scrutiny,—Nineteenth Report from the European Scrutiny Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 23-xix] [Mr Jimmy Hood]. |
| 5 | Health,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Health Committee [Provision of NHS Mental Health Services]; to be printed [No. 373-vii] [Mr David Hinchliffe]. |
| 6 | Northern Ireland Affairs,—(1) Second Special Report from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee [Government Response to the Second Report from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Session 1999-2000, on Current Problems relating to the Livestock Industry in Northern Ireland]; to be printed [No. 535]; and |
| | (2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Northern Ireland Railways]; to be printed [No. 512-ii]. |
| | |
| 7 | Public Accounts,—(1) Twenty-second Report from the Committee of Public Accounts [Highways Agency: Getting Best Value from the Disposal of Property]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 231]; |
| | (2) Twenty-third Report from the Committee [English Partnerships: Assisting Local Regeneration]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 283]; and |
| | (3) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Ensuring that Railtrack Maintain and Renew the Railway Network]; to be printed [No. 536-i] |
| | |
| 8 | Public Administration,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on Public Administration [Making Government Work]; to be printed [No. 238-iii] [Dr Tony Wright]. |
| 9 | Science and Technology,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee [The Proposed New Synchrotron Facility]; to be printed [No. 82-iii] [Dr Michael Clark]. |
| 10 | Social Security,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Social Security Committee [Housing Benefit]; to be printed [No. 385-v] [Mr Archy Kirkwood]. |
| 11 | Trade and Industry,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Trade and Industry Committee [Vehicle Manufacturing in the UK]; to be printed [No. 534-i] [Mr Martin O'Neill]. |
|
| CORRIGENDUM |
| In the Votes and Proceedings of 22nd May 2000, item 3 should have read as follows: |
| Electronic Communications Bill,—Lords Amendments to the Electronic Communications Bill to be considered to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 131]. |
