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The House met at half-past Two o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1 City of Newcastle upon Tyne Bill [Lords],-The Order of the day being read, for the Third Reading of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne Bill [Lords];
Ordered, That the Bill be read the third time on Tuesday 31st October.
2 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 1st November.
3 Alliance & Leicester Group Treasury plc (Transfer) Bill [Lords],-The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Alliance & Leicester Group Treasury plc (Transfer) Bill [Lords]
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Tuesday 31st October.
4 First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,-Mrs Ray Michie reported from the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Nickel) (Safety) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1668).
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
5 Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,-Mr Eric Illsley reported from the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the Education (National Curriculum) (Attainment Target and Programmes of Study in Citizenship) (England) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1603), and the Education (National Curriculum) (Attainment Targets of Programmes of Study in History) (England) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1606).
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
6 Sex Discrimination (Amendment) Bill,-Ordered, That the Sex Discrimination (Amendment) Bill be read a second time on Friday 10th November.
7 Rogue Traders,-Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the Fair Trading Act 1973 to introduce further powers to regulate rogue traders: And that Ms Margaret Moran, Norman Baker, Mr David Davis, Mr Kerry Pollard, Helen Jackson, Helen Jones, Mr Jim Dobbin, Rosemary McKenna, Jim Fitzpatrick, Dr Alan Whitehead, Mr Alan Keen and Judy Mallaber do prepare and bring it in.
8 Rogue Traders Bill,-Ms Margaret Moran accordingly presented a Bill to amend the Fair Trading Act 1973 to introduce further powers to regulate rogue traders: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 10th November and to be printed [Bill 176].
9 Opposition Day [18th 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.
Fuel Protests,-A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes that, despite warnings from Her Majesty's Official Opposition, the Government refused to listen to the grievances brought to them by business and commerce, most particularly by hauliers, farmers, pensioners, the disabled and by those on low incomes or living in rural areas, thereby provoking the fuel protests in September; condemns the Government's initial complacency about the protests which later turned to panic; deplores the Government's repeated increases in taxation, despite having no mandate to do so and notes that the increases in the tax on petrol and diesel have become the symbol of the Government's betrayal of their tax promises; urges the Government to address the problems their tax increases have caused, by reducing tax on hard-working families, pensioners and businesses, including an immediate reduction in road fuel duty; and laments the fact that, despite the increases in tax on the travelling public, the Government has allowed the road system to deteriorate and has failed to deliver the improvements in the transport system which it promised and which the public expected-(Mr Archie Norman);
An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 1, to leave out from the word 'House' to the end of the Question and add the words 'applauds the tough, long-term economic decisions taken by the Government to create a platform of stability on which to invest in education, health, transport and law and order, building a Britain where there is opportunity and security for all; recognises the difficulty that has been caused to some sectors of the economy due to the rapid increase in world oil prices over the past 18 months; welcomes the Government's determination to set its economic and fiscal policy within the context of the normal budget and democratic processes; deplores the previous Government's record of boom and bust and under-investment in the nation's vital public services; notes that the proportion of the cost of petrol accounted for by VAT and duty is lower than when this Government took office in May 1997; welcomes the Government's environmental record which has seen Britain lead the world in the fight against global warming; and welcomes the Government's 10-year plan to modernise the nation's transport system, cut congestion, deliver real choice and see a 42 per cent. real terms increase in spending', instead thereof.-(Mr Michael Meacher.)
And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question;
Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Peter Luff, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 144.
Tellers for the Noes, Mr David Jamieson, Mr Mike Hall: 378.
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 David Jamieson, Mr Mike Hall: 322.
Tellers for the Noes, Mr Peter Luff, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 159.
So the Question was agreed to.
The Deputy Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to.
Resolved, That this House applauds the tough, long-term economic decisions taken by the Government to create a platform of stability on which to invest in education, health, transport and law and order, building a Britain where there is opportunity and security for all; recognises the difficulty that has been caused to some sectors of the economy due to the rapid increase in world oil prices over the past 18 months; welcomes the Government's determination to set its economic and fiscal policy within the context of the normal budget and democratic processes; deplores the previous Government's record of boom and bust and under-investment in the nation's vital public services; notes that the proportion of the cost of petrol accounted for by VAT and duty is lower than when this Government took office in May 1997; welcomes the Government's environmental record which has seen Britain lead the world in the fight against global warming; and welcomes the Government's 10-year plan to modernise the nation's transport system, cut congestion, deliver real choice and see a 42 per cent. real terms increase in spending.
Supply and Recruitment of Teachers,-A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House views with concern the growing crisis of teacher supply and recruitment which is affecting the quality of education in the country's schools; notes that there has been a net outflow of teachers from the profession since 1997; deplores the Government's complacency and failure to deal with the underlying problems leading to the decline of the teaching profession; recognises that, unless action is taken, education standards will fall in the future; and calls on the Government to set the schools free, give heads the power to exercise discipline policy in their schools, rid teachers of the excessive bureaucratic burdens they face and let teachers teach-(Mrs Theresa May);
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 successful new measures introduced by the Government to support teacher recruitment, including training salaries, incentives for shortage subjects and an expanded graduate teacher programme; welcomes the fact that there has been a significant increase in applications and acceptances for teacher training as a result; further welcomes the support given by the School Teachers Review Body for the Government's plans to better reward good teaching; notes that there are nearly 7,000 more teachers in post now than in 1998; further notes that primary and infant class sizes have fallen after rising annually under the previous administration; recognises that headteachers have got both the resources and the powers to deal effectively with discipline for the first time; and commends the work of the Government in addressing specific recruitment difficulties in London and the positive and pro-active approach of this administration towards recruiting and rewarding teachers more generally', instead thereof.-(Mr Secretary Blunkett.)
And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question;
Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Peter Luff, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 143.
Tellers for the Noes, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe, Mrs Anne McGuire: 353.
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, Mrs Anne McGuire, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe: 306.
Tellers for the Noes, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr Peter Luff: 176.
So the Question was agreed to.
The Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to.
Resolved, That this House welcomes the successful new measures introduced by the Government to support teacher recruitment, including training salaries, incentives for shortage subjects and an expanded graduate teacher programme; welcomes the fact that there has been a significant increase in applications and acceptances for teacher training as a result; further welcomes the support given by the School Teachers Review Body for the Government's plans to better reward good teaching; notes that there are nearly 7,000 more teachers in post now than in 1998; further notes that primary and infant class sizes have fallen after rising annually under the previous administration; recognises that headteachers have got both the resources and the powers to deal effectively with discipline for the first time; and commends the work of the Government in addressing specific recruitment difficulties in London and the positive and pro-active approach of this administration towards recruiting and rewarding teachers more generally.
10 Flags,-A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the draft Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, which were laid before this House on 23rd October, be approved-(Mr Secretary Mandelson);
And it being one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion, the Deputy Speaker put the Question, pursuant to Standing Order No. 16 (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents):-It was agreed to.
Resolved, That the draft Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, which were laid before this House on 23rd October, be approved.
11 Modernisation of the House of Commons,-Ordered, That Sir George Young be discharged from the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons and Mrs Angela Browning be added to the Committee.-(Mr Robert Ainsworth.)
12 Public Petitions,-A Public Petition from the Earl Shilton Bypass Action Group calling for progress in constructing the Earl Shilton bypass was presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.
13 Adjournment,-A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn-(Mr Mike Hall);
Thursday 26th October 2000
And the Question being put;
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty-seven minutes past Twelve o'clock on Thursday morning, adjourned till this day.
[Adjourned at 12.27 a.m.
Michael J. Martin
Speaker
Mr Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Eleven o'clock.
Papers presented or laid upon the Table:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
1 Census,-Draft Census (Amendment) Order 2000 [by Act] [Miss Melanie Johnson].
2 Charities,-Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2868), dated 19th October 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Straw].
3 Consumer Protection,-Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Safety) (Consolidation) and Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2897), dated 20th October 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Byers].
4 Education,-Education (Foundation Body) (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2872), dated 20th October 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
5 Health and Safety,-Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2831), dated 17th October 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].1
6 Police,-(1) Police and Criminal Evidence (Application to Police Ombudsman) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000 (S.R. (N.I.), 2000, No. 314),
(2) Royal Ulster Constabulary (Appeals) Regulations 2000 (S.R.(N.I.), 2000, No. 317),
(3) Royal Ulster Constabulary (Complaints etc.) Regulations 2000 (S.R. (N.I.), 2000, No. 318),
(4) Royal Ulster Constabulary (Complaints) (Informal Resolution) Regulations 2000 (S.R.(N.I.), 2000, No. 319),
(5) Royal Ulster Constabulary (Conduct) Regulations 2000 (S.R. (N.I.), 2000, No. 315),
(6) Royal Ulster Constabulary (Conduct) (Senior Officers) Regulations 2000 (S.R. (N.I.), 2000, No. 320), and
(7) Royal Ulster Constabulary (Unsatisfactory Performance) Regulations 2000 (S.R. (N.I.), 2000, No. 316),
dated 23rd October 2000 [by Statutory Instrument] [Mr Secretary Mandelson].
7 Telecommunications,-(1) Public Telecommunication System Designation (Alpha Telecom (UK) Ltd) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2857),
(2) Public Telecommunication System Designation (i-21 Limited) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2855),
(3) Public Telecommunication System Designation (M3COM (UK) Limited) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2859),
(4) Public Telecommunication System Designation (Pacific Gateway Exchange (UK) Limited) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2856), and
(5) Public Telecommunication System Designation (Sonera UK Ltd) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2858),
dated 18th October 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Byers].
8 Town and Country Planning,-Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2867), dated 18th October 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].
Other Papers:
9 Development of Tourism,-Statement of reappointment and salaries of Jennifer Robson OBE and David Lunn as members of the English Tourism Council [by Act] [Mr Secretary Smith].
10 Further and Higher Education (Scotland),-Report by the Scottish Ministers on Further Education in Scotland for l999 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Reid].
11 Health and Safety,-Report and Accounts of the Health and Safety Commission for l999-2000, and Accounts of the Health and Safety Executive for l999-2000, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 889] [Clerk of the House].
12 Health Service Commissioner,-Fourth Report of the Health Service Ombudsman, Session 1999-2000: Investigations completed-April to July 2000 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 896-I & II] [Clerk of the House].
13 Museums and Galleries,-Account of the National Portrait Gallery for 1999-2000, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 925] [Clerk of the House].
14 National Lottery,-(1) Report of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts for 1999-2000, and
(2) Report and Summary Financial Statement of the National Lottery Charities Board for 1999-2000, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon
[by Act] [Mr Secretary Smith].
15 Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors,-Account of the Welsh National Board 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. 888] [Mr Secretary Murphy].
16 Police,-Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary for 1999-2000 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 895] [Mr Secretary Straw].
17 Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation,-Report and Financial Statements of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation for 1999 [by Command] [Mr Secretary Straw].
18 Telecommunications,-Licences granted under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to-
(1) Alpha Telecom (UK) Limited,
(4) Pacific Gateway Exchange (UK) Limited, and
[by Act] [Mr Secretary Byers].
19 Treaty Series (No. 121, 2000),-Agreement, done at London on 13th December 1995, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ukraine on International Road Transport [by Command] [Cm. 4879] [Mr Secretary Cook].
20 Treaty Series (No. 122, 2000),-Exchange of Letters, done at London on 29th May 1998, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Australia constituting an Agreement to amend the Agreement on Health Services [by Command] [Cm. 4880] [Mr Secretary Cook].
APPENDIX II
Standing Committees
1 Insolvency Bill [Lords]:
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Bill to Standing Committee B, and has appointed Mr Roger Gale and Mrs Ray Michie Chairmen; and
(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Graham Brady, Mr John Burnett, Sir Sydney Chapman, Mr Christopher Chope, Mr Brian Cotter, Mr David Crausby, Barbara Follett, Dr Kim Howells, Mr Lindsay Hoyle, Helen Jones, Mr Austin Mitchell, Mr Richard Page, Mr Greg Pope, Mr Alan Simpson, Mr Derek Twigg and Mr Brian White.
2 Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Notification of Authorisations etc.) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2563), and the Investigatory Powers Tribunal Rules 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2665):
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Order and Rules to the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr Bowen Wells Chairman; and
(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Jackie Ballard, Mr John Burnett, Mr Charles Clarke, Mr Hilton Dawson, Mr Frank Dobson, Mrs Louise Ellman, Mr Mike Hall, Mr Oliver Heald, Mr Michael Jack, Ms Oona King, Mr Tony Lloyd, Mr Keith Simpson, Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West), Dr George Turner, Mr Andrew Tyrie and Ms Claire Ward.
3 Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Nickel) (Safety) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1668):
(1) The Speaker has appointed Mrs Ray Michie Chairman of the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (in respect of the Regulations) in place of Sir David Madel; and
(2) The Committee of Selection has discharged Mrs Eleanor Laing from the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the Regulations); and nominated in substitution Mr Graham Brady.
4 Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 (Amendment of Section 10) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2024):
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Order to the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr Jim Cunningham Chairman; and
(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Crispin Blunt, Mr Desmond Browne, Mr Colin Burgon, Mr Ian Cawsey, Mr James Cran, Jim Dowd, Paul Flynn, Mr Christopher Fraser, Mrs Eileen Gordon, Mr Adam Ingram, Mr Peter Kilfoyle, Mr Andrew Mackinlay, Mr Gordon Marsden, Mr Lembit Öpik, Mr William Ross and Mr John M. Taylor.
5 Education (National Curriculum) (Attainment Target and Programmes of Study in Citizenship) (England) Order (S.I., 2000, No. 1603), and the Education (National Curriculum) (Attainment Targets and Programmes of Study in History) (England) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, 1606),-The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown from the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the Orders); and nominated in substitution Mr John Randall.
6 Draft Consular Fees Act 1980 (Fees) Order 2000:
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and
(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mrs Liz Blackman, Mr Peter Bradley, Mr Jim Cousins, Dr Jack Cunningham, Mr Stephen Day, Mr Huw Edwards, Caroline Flint, Mr Peter Hain, Mr Paul Keetch, Mr Tony McNulty, Mr Mark Oaten, Mr Andrew Robathan, Mr Chris Ruane, Mr Richard Spring, Mr Desmond Swayne and Mr Robert N. Wareing.
European Standing Committees
7 European Union Document No. 9712/00, relating to the Statute for Members of the European Parliament; together with European Union Document No. 9560/00, relating to the Audit of Expenditure by EP Political Groups, have been referred to European Standing Committee B.
8 The Speaker has appointed Mr Jonathan Sayeed Chairman of European Standing Committee C in respect of European Union Document No. 9964/00, relating to the Social Policy Agenda.
APPENDIX III
Reports from Select Committees
1 Agriculture,-(1) Seventh Special Report from the Agriculture Committee [Government Response to the Sixth Report from the Committee, on the Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO]; to be printed [No. 926];
(2) Eighth Special Report from the Committee [Government Response to the Seventh Report from the Committee, on Horticulture Research International]; to be printed [No. 927];
(3) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Organic Farming]; to be printed [No. 681-iii]; and
(4) Memoranda laid before the Committee [Horticulture Research International; Organic Farming; Regional Service Centres]
2 Defence,-(1) Fourteenth Special Report from the Defence Committee [Further Evidence relating to the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency]; to be printed [No. 928];
(2) Fifteenth Special Report from the Committee [Government Observations on the Twelfth Report from the Committee, the Adaption of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe]; to be printed [No. 929];
(3) Sixteenth Special Report from the Committee [Government Observations on the Thirteenth Report from the Committee, Iraqi No-Fly Zones]; to be printed [No. 930]; and
(4) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Armed Forces Personnel Issues]; to be printed [No. 689-iii] [Mr Bruce George].
3 European Scrutiny,-Twenty-Seventh Report from the European Scrutiny Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 23-xxvii] [Mr Jim Dobbin].
4 Foreign Affairs,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Foreign Affairs Committee [China]; to be printed [No. 574-iv] [Mr Donald Anderson].
5 Northern Ireland Affairs,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee [Prison Service in Northern Ireland]; to be printed [No. 931-i] [Mr Peter Brooke].
6 Public Administration,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on Public Administration [Inherited SERPS and the Report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration]; to be printed [No. 433-iv] [Tony Wright].
7 Science and Technology,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee [The Science Budget]; to be printed [No. 898-i] [Dr Michael Clark].
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CORRIGENDUM
In the Votes and Proceedings for Monday 23rd October, in Appendix I, the following item should have appeared:
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:
Friday 6th October 2000
Social Security,-Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Amendment Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 2690), dated 1st October 2000 [Mr Secretary Darling].
1 A copy of the Regulatory Impact Assessment was attached to the laid Instrument.
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