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The House met at twenty-five minutes past Eleven o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1 Message to attend Her Majesty,-A Message from Her Majesty was delivered by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.
The Queen commands this Honourable House to attend Her Majesty immediately in the House of Peers.
Accordingly, the Speaker, with the House, went up to attend Her Majesty:-And having returned;
The Speaker resumed the Chair at half-past Two o'clock.
2 Elections,-Ordered, That all Members who are returned for two or more places in any part of the United Kingdom do make their Election for which of the places they will serve, within one week after it shall appear that there is no question upon the Return for that place; and if any thing shall come in question touching the Return or Election of any Member, he is to withdraw during the time the matter is in debate; and that all Members returned upon double Returns do withdraw till their Returns are determined.
Resolved, That if it shall appear that any person hath been elected or returned a Member of this House, or endeavoured so to be by bribery, or any other corrupt practices, this House will proceed with the utmost severity against all such persons as shall have been wilfully concerned in such bribery or other corrupt practices.
3 Witnesses,-Resolved, That if it shall appear that any person hath been tampering with any witness, in respect of his evidence to be given to this House, or any Committee thereof, or directly or indirectly hath endeavoured to deter or hinder any person from appearing or giving evidence, the same is declared to be a high crime and misdemeanour; and this House will proceed with the utmost severity against such offender.
Resolved, That if it shall appear that any person hath given false evidence in any case before this House, or any Committee thereof, this House will proceed with the utmost severity against such offender.
4 Metropolitan Police,-Ordered, That the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis do take care that during the Session of Parliament the passages through the streets leading to this House be kept free and open and that no obstruction be permitted to hinder the passage of Members to and from this House, and that no disorder be allowed in Westminster Hall, or in the passages leading to this House, during the Sitting of Parliament, and that there be no annoyance therein or thereabouts; and that the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do communicate this Order to the Commissioner aforesaid.
5 Votes and Proceedings,-Ordered, That the Votes and Proceedings of this House be printed, being first perused by the Speaker.
6 Outlawries,-A Bill for the more effectual preventing Clandestine Outlawries was read the first time and ordered to be read a second time.
7 .Selection (Standing Committees),-Mr Paul Tyler reported from the Committee of Selection the following Resolution:
That, after a Bill has been under consideration in a Standing Committee, no application for changes in the composition of that Committee in respect of that Bill will be entertained by this Committee except where a Member is incapacitated from attendance by illness, or where he has been appointed or ceased to be a member of the Government or has changed his office for another, or has acquired other duties, or ceased to hold or changed such duties.
Report to lie upon the Table.
8 Selection (Select Committees),-Mr Paul Tyler reported from the Committee of Selection the following Resolution:
That Motions to alter the membership of Select Committees may be tabled on behalf of the Committee of Selection only if previously approved at a meeting of the Committee of Selection.
Report to lie upon the Table.
9 Chairmen's Panel (Parliament Act 1911),-Mr Paul Tyler reported from the Committee of Selection, That, in pursuance of section 1(3) of the Parliament Act 1911, it had appointed Mr John McWilliam and Mr Nicholas Winterton to be the two Members whom the Speaker shall consult, if practicable, before certifying a Bill to be a Money Bill.
10 Standing Committee C,-Mr Paul Tyler reported from the Committee of Selection, That it had designated Standing Committee C as the Committee on which Government Bills shall not have precedence.
11 Queen's Speech,-The Speaker reported Her Majesty's Speech and directed that it be entered in the Journal, as follows:
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
My Government will continue to pursue its central economic objective of high and stable levels of growth and employment. My Government will ensure the continued economic stability which has enabled it to increase the resources available for education, health, transport, and police services. My Government will reflect these policies in its Finance Bill.
This is my Government's fourth legislative programme. My Government's main Bills for the coming Session will focus on improving public services and cutting crime.
My Government also plans other major Bills and other significant initiatives, particularly in secondary education with the creation of more specialist schools, urban school reform and improved teaching in the early years of secondary education.
My Government is determined to combat all aspects of crime to protect all members of our society. My Government will introduce legislation to modernise and improve law enforcement by, for example, tackling disorderly conduct. Legislation will be introduced to regulate the private security industry.
A Bill will be introduced to cut vehicle crime, reduce opportunities to dispose of stolen vehicles, and extend the time limit for prosecution for vehicle theft.
A Bill will be published in draft to increase powers against money laundering and make it easier to recover the proceeds of crime.
The Bill to give Courts themselves the power to decide whether certain defendants should be tried by jury or by magistrates will be re-introduced.
Legislation will also be brought forward to reduce benefit fraud. This will enable more information to be obtained to prevent fraud and will provide power to withdraw or reduce benefits where a person has twice been convicted of benefit fraud.
My Government remains committed to the founding principles of the National Health Service. My Government's NHS Plan showed how it would take forward further reform of health services to improve standards. Legislation will be introduced to support many of the commitments in the Plan, in particular to improve the performance of the NHS. The legislation will also take forward my Government's response to the Royal Commission on Long Term Care for the Elderly.
A Bill will be brought forward to ban the advertising and promotion of tobacco products.
My Government continues to attach the highest importance to improving education. It has already secured a number of changes to the law to further this end, including legislation to reform the training of teachers, to secure improved school standards and to create the Learning and Skills Councils. My Government will introduce a Bill to improve the framework for meeting special educational needs and access to learning for disabled people. During the new Session, my Government will continue to work to improve standards in education.
Legislation will be introduced to extend the functions of the Children's Commissioner for Wales, to provide better protection for children in Wales.
A Bill will be introduced to increase the effectiveness of the power to reduce regulatory burdens by removing inappropriate and over-complex regulation.
Legislation will be brought forward to ease the process of buying and selling homes, and to improve the protection given to homeless people. Progress will also be made on the purchase of freeholds by leaseholders, and on commonhold, a new form of tenure for flatowners.
Members of the House of Commons,
Estimates for the Public Service will be laid before you.
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
A Bill will be introduced to enable a free vote to take place on the future of hunting with dogs.
My Government has appointed Lord Cullen to head an Inquiry into safety on our railways. A Bill will be drafted to provide for safer travel on the railways, in the air, at sea and on the roads, and will take forward proposals for revitalising health and safety at work.
A draft Bill will be published to improve the transparency of export controls and to establish their purpose.
In Northern Ireland, my Government will continue to work closely with the political parties and the Irish Government to secure the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. A Bill will be published in draft on the implementation of the recommendations of the review of the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland.
My Government is committed to making devolution in Scotland and Wales work and to continue the process of decentralising Government in the interests of all the people in the United Kingdom.
A Bill will be introduced to maintain the legislation relating to the Armed Forces for the next five years.
Other measures will be laid before you.
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
The Duke of Edinburgh and I look forward to our State Visit to Norway.
My Government will continue to work with our partners to shape the future of the European Union. It will work for rapid progress on the enlargement negotiations, and for reform of the institutions of the European Union to prepare them for a wider membership.
My Government will continue to ensure that NATO remains the foundation of Britain's defence and security. My Government will continue to work to make the United Nations Security Council more effective and representative. It will support efforts to improve the United Nations' capacity to undertake peace-keeping operations.
A White Paper will be published outlining how my Government will work to shape the forces of globalization to benefit the world's poor.
My Government believes that those who commit crimes against humanity should be brought to justice. It will introduce a Bill to enable the UK to ratify the statute of the International Criminal Court.
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.
12 Queen's Speech (Motion for an Address),-A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, as follows:
We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament-(Sir John Morris);
Ordered, That the Debate be now adjourned.-(Mr David Jamieson.)
Debate to be resumed to-morrow.
13 Adjournment,-A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn-(Mr David Jamieson);
And the Motion having been made at Ten o'clock, and the Debate having continued for half an hour, the Speaker adjourned the House without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order, it being then half-past Ten o'clock, till to-morrow.
[Adjourned at 10.30 p.m.
Michael J. Martin
Speaker
Mr Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Two o'clock.
Papers presented or laid upon the Table:
Papers presented by Her Majesty's Command and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office during the Prorogation of Parliament pursuant to Standing Order No. 158 (Presentation of command papers):
1 Honours, Decorations and Medals,-Papers, entitled:-
(1) The Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal: Royal Warrant, and
(2) The Volunteer Reserves Service Medal: Royal Warrant
[Cm. 4890 and 4889] [Mr Secretary Hoon].
2 Treaty Series (No. 130, 2000),-Exchange of Notes, done at Georgetown on 11th September 2000, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana concerning Certain Commercial Debts (The United Kingdom/Guyana Debt Agreement No. 5 (l999)) [Cm. 4929] [Mr Secretary Cook].
Papers delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned dates during the Prorogation of Parliament pursuant to Standing Order No. 159 (Presentation of statutory instruments):
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Friday 1st December 2000
3 Ecclesiastical Law,-Parsonages Measure Rules 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3171), dated 16th November 2000 [Clerk of the House].
4 Local Government,-Plymouth City Council Act 1987 (Modification) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3132), dated 24th November 2000 [Mr Secretary Prescott].
Monday 4th December 2000
5 Agriculture,-(1) Beef Labelling (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3047), dated 13th November 2000,
(2) Common Agriculture Policy Support Schemes (Modulation) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3127), dated 23rd November 2000, and
(3) Slaughter Premium Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3126), dated 24th November 2000
6 Registration of Political Parties,-Registered Parties (Non-constituent and Non-affiliated Organisations) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3183), dated 4th December 2000 [Mr Secretary Straw].
Tuesday 5th December 2000
7 Disabled Persons,-Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Gatwick Express Class 460 Vehicles) Exemption (Amendment No. 2) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3187), dated 2nd December 2000 [Mr Secretary Prescott].
8 National Health Service,-National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3189), dated 4th December 2000 [Mr Secretary Milburn].
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Wednesday 6th December 2000:
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
9 Family Law,-(1) Draft Child Support (Collection and Enforcement and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2000,
(2) Draft Child Support (Information, Evidence and Disclosure and Maintenance Arrangements and Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Regulations 2000,
(3) Draft Child Support (Maintenance Calculation Procedure) Regulations 2000,
(4) Draft Child Support (Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases) Regulations 2000, and
(5) Draft Child Support (Variations) Regulations 2000
[by Act] [Mr Secretary Darling].
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
10 Family Law,-(1) Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3185), dated 4th December 2000,
(2) Child Support (Temporary Compensation Payment Scheme) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3174), dated 30th November 2000,
(3) Child Support (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3186), dated 4th December 2000,
(4) Child Support (Variations) (Modification of Statutory Provisions) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3173), dated 29th November 2000, and
(5) Child Support (Voluntary Payments) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3177), dated 30th November 2000
[by Act] [Mr Secretary Darling].
11 Food,-Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3162), dated 28th November 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Milburn].
12 Road Traffic,-(1) International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs (Amendment) Regulations (S.I., 2000, No. 3196), and
(2) Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3197),
dated 6th December 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].
13 Social Security,-Social Security (Child Maintenance Premium and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 3176), dated 30th November 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Darling].
14 Universities of Oxford and Cambridge,-(1) Statute, dated 27th June 2000, made by the Governing Body of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, amending the Statutes of the College, and
(2) Statute, dated 16th March 1998, made by the Governing Body of Merton College, Oxford, amending the Statutes of the College,
[by Act] [Margaret Beckett].
Other Papers:
15 Health Service Commissioners,-First Report of the Health Service Ombudsman, Session 2000-2001: Errors in the Care and Treatment of a young woman with Diabetes [by Act]; to be printed [No. 13] [Clerk of the House].
16 National Audit,-Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on The Radiocommunications Agency's Joint Venture with CMG [by Act]; to be printed [No. 21] [Clerk of the House].
17 National Lottery,-Account of the United Kingdom Sports Council Lottery Distribution for 1999-2000, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 22] [Clerk of the House].
18 Treasury Solicitor,-Crown's Nominee Account for 1999-2000 [by Act] [Miss Melanie Johnson].
APPENDIX II
Private Business
1 Committee on Unopposed Bills (Panel),-Mr Paul Tyler reported from the Committee of Selection, That it had appointed seventeen members to be the Panel of Members to serve on the Committee on Unopposed Bills under Standing Order 111 relating to Private Business (Reference to committees of opposed and unopposed bills), viz.: John Austin, Mr Nigel Beard, Mr Peter Bottomley, Mrs Helen Brinton, Mr John Butterfill, Mr Philip Hammond, Mr Brian Jenkins, Helen Jones, Mr John McDonnell, Mr Andrew Mackinlay, Mr David Marshall, Mr Syd Rapson, Mr Nick St. Aubyn, Mr Andrew Stunell, Mr Jon Trickett, Mr Robert Walter and Mrs Ann Winterton.
2 Provisional Orders (Scotland) (Panel),-The Committee of Selection, in pursuance of Standing Order 228 relating to Private Business (Parliamentary Panel), has selected fifteen members to form the Parliamentary Panel of Members of the House to act as Commissioners under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936, viz.: Mr Douglas Alexander, Dr Lynda Clark, Mr Eric Clarke, Mr Michael Connarty, Mr Ian Davidson, Mr Brian H. Donohoe, Mr Donald Gorrie, Rosemary McKenna, Mr David Marshall, Mr John Maxton, Mr Michael Moore, Mr Alasdair Morgan, Sir Robert Smith, Mr Andrew Welsh and Mr James Wray.
3 Standing Orders Committee,-The Committee of Selection has nominated seven Members to serve on the Standing Orders Committee under Standing Order 103 relating to private Business (Appointment of Standing Orders Committee), viz.: Mrs Llin Golding, Mr Brian Jenkins, Helen Jones, Mr Bill O'Brien, Mr Ernie Ross, Mr Andrew Stunell and Mr Nicholas Winterton.
Standing Committees
4 Mink Keeping (England) Order 2000,-The Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the Order), viz.: Mr Peter Atkinson, Mr Bob Blizzard, Mr Crispin Blunt, Mr Tom Brake, Mr Keith Darvill, Mr Andrew Dismore, Barbara Follett, Mr John Grogan, Mr David Heath, Mr Lindsay Hoyle, Dr Stephen Ladyman, Mrs Anne McGuire, Mr Elliot Morley, Mr Malcolm Moss, Mr Nick St Aubyn and Mr Paul Truswell.
Grand Committees
5 Northern Ireland Grand Committee,-The Committee of Selection has nominated twenty-three additional Members to serve on the Northern Ireland Grand Committee, viz.: Mr Harry Barnes, Mr Desmond Browne, Mr James Cran, Mrs Louise Ellman, Mr Mike Gapes, Dr Norman A. Godman, Mr Phil Hope, Mr Andrew Hunter; Helen Jackson, Shona McIsaac, Mr Andrew MacKay, Mr Kevin McNamara, Mr Tony McWalter, Ms Margaret Moran, Mr Bill O'Brien, Mr Lembit Opik, Ms Sandra Osborne, Mr Stephen Pound, Mr Andrew Robathan, Mr Martin Salter, Mr Ian Taylor, Mr John M Taylor and Mr Gareth R. Thomas.
6 Welsh Grand Committee,-The Committee of Selection has nominated two additional Members to serve on the Welsh Grand Committee, viz.: Mr Nigel Evans and Mr Robert Walter.
7 Standing Committee on Regional Affairs,-The Committee of Selection has nominated twelve Members representing English constituencies to serve on the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs, viz.: Mr Joe Ashton, Ms Candy Atherton, Ms Karen Buck, Mr David Chidgey, Mrs Louise Ellman, Mr Nigel Evans, Mr Andrew George, Mr Denis Murphy, Mr Ian Pearson, Mr Lawrie Quinn, Mr Anthony Steen and Derek Wyatt.
APPENDIX III
Reports from Select Committees
1 Defence,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Defence Committee [Armed Forces Personnel Issues]; to be printed [No. 29-i] [Mr Bruce George].
2 Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs,-(1) First Report from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee [Recent Events on the Railway], together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Transport Sub-Committee of the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 17]; and
(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Transport Sub-Committee of the Committee [Rail Investment: Renewal, Maintenance and Development of the National Rail Network]; to be printed [No. 18-i]
3 Public Administration,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on Public Administration [The Annual Report of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments]; to be printed [No. 27-i] [Mr Andrew Tyrie].
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CHAIRMEN'S PANEL
In pursuance of Standing Order No. 4 (Chairmen's Panel), the Speaker has nominated Mrs Irene Adams, Mr Joe Benton, Mr John Butterfill, Dr Michael Clark, Mr Frank Cook, Mr John Cummings, Mr Jim Cunningham, Mr Roger Gale, Mr Mike Hancock, Mr Jimmy Hood, Mr Eric Illsley, Mr Barry Jones, Dr Ashok Kumar, Mr John McWilliam, Sir David Madel, Mr Humfrey Malins, Mr John Maxton, Mrs Ray Michie, Mr Bill O'Brien, Mr Edward O'Hara, Mr Bill Olner, Mrs Marion Roe, Mr Jonathan Sayeed, Mr George Stevenson, Mr Bowen Wells, Mr Andrew Welsh and Mr Nicholas Winterton to be members of the Chairmen's Panel during this Session.
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