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The House met at half-past Two o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1 Opposition Day [10th 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.
Asylum: Bilateral Agreement with France,-A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House deplores the failure of the Government over the past four years to negotiate with the Government of France on the re-application of the bilateral agreement on immigration to the case of asylum seekers; and calls on the Government to ensure a more equitable distribution within the EU of the responsibility for assessing and meeting the claims of potential refugees-(Mr Oliver Letwin);
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 'notes that co-operation with France on immigration and asylum issues is greater now than it has ever been; recognises that there has been an overall drop from 13,527 in 2000 to 10,927 in 2001, a drop of almost 20 per cent., in the number of people crossing illegally to the UK from France; further notes that bilateral co-operation continues to address the problem of asylum seekers in Northern France, that the French have made significant investment in police reinforcements in the region and judicial action has been taken against human traffickers and that, as a result of the imposition of the civil penalty, the number of clandestine entrants was reduced by 27 per cent. in 2001; and further notes that the previous Conservative Government left the asylum system in complete disarray, with local authorities left to pick up the pieces', instead thereof.-(Mr Secretary Blunkett.)
And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question;
Tellers for the Ayes, Mrs Cheryl Gillan, Mr John Randall: 138.
Tellers for the Noes, Mr Ivor Caplin, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe: 325.
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 notes that co-operation with France on immigration and asylum issues is greater now than it has ever been; recognises that there has been an overall drop from 13,527 in 2000 to 10,927 in 2001, a drop of almost 20 per cent., in the number of people crossing illegally to the UK from France; further notes that bilateral co-operation continues to address the problem of asylum seekers in Northern France, that the French have made significant investment in police reinforcements in the region and judicial action has been taken against human traffickers and that, as a result of the imposition of the civil penalty, the number of clandestine entrants was reduced by 27 per cent. in 2001; and further notes that the previous Conservative Government left the asylum system in complete disarray, with local authorities left to pick up the pieces.
The Government's Pension Plans and Means-tested Benefits,-A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House welcomes the Government's stated aim of increasing from 40 per cent. to 60 per cent. the proportion of pensioners' incomes which comes from the private sector, but notes with concern that the trend is in the opposite direction; deplores the regulatory burdens now placed on pension providers; condemns the Government for its failure to reform annuities; regrets the low level of saving and the decline of funded pensions; recognises that this poses a significant threat to the incomes of pensioners in the future; and further regrets that the Government's response is to increase the number of pensioners dependent on means-tested benefits-(Mr David Willetts);
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 Government's framework for pensions which will reduce pensioner poverty and encourage saving; further welcomes the fact that pension savings are now at record levels and the increased choice given by stakeholder pensions; further welcomes the Government's decision to set up the Pickering review; and congratulates the Government on the extra £6 billion paid to pensioners from April and its intention to bring in the Pension Credit which will increase the incomes of around half of all pensioners', instead thereof.-(Mr Secretary Darling.)
And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question;
Tellers for the Ayes, Mr John Randall, Mr Julian Brazier: 175.
Tellers for the Noes, Mr Tony McNulty, Mr Phil Woolas: 296.
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 Tony McNulty, Mr Phil Woolas: 290.
Tellers for the Noes, Mr John Randall, Mr Julian Brazier: 174.
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 Government's framework for pensions which will reduce pensioner poverty and encourage saving; further welcomes the fact that pension savings are now at record levels and the increased choice given by stakeholder pensions; further welcomes the Government's decision to set up the Pickering review; and congratulates the Government on the extra £6 billion paid to pensioners from April and its intention to bring in the Pension Credit which will increase the incomes of around half of all pensioners.
2 Civil Aviation,-A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Air Navigation (Environmental Standards) Order 2002, which was laid before this House on 17th January, be approved-(Mr Nick Ainger):-It was agreed to.
3 Adjournment,-A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn-(Mr Nick Ainger);
And the Motion having been made after Ten o'clock, and the Debate having continued for half an hour, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House, without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order, it being then two minutes to Eleven o'clock, till to-morrow.
[Adjourned at 10.58 p.m.
Michael J. Martin
Speaker
Mr Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Two o'clock.
APPENDIX I
Papers presented or laid upon the Table:
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
1 Rehabilitation of Offenders,-Draft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 2002 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
2 Education,-Education (Student Support) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 195), dated 4th February 2002 [by Act] [Secretary Estelle Morris].
3 Justices of the Peace,-Justices of the Peace (Size and Chairmanship of Bench) Rules 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 193), dated 31st January 2002 [by Act] [Mr Michael Wills].
4 Universities of Oxford and Cambridge,-Statute, dated 8th October 2001, made by the Governing Body of Christ Church, Oxford, amending the Statutes of the College [by Act] [Mr Robin Cook].
Other Papers:
5 Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance,-Report of the Law Society of Northern Ireland on Legal Aid in Northern Ireland in 2000-01, with the Report of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Aid in Northern Ireland thereon [by Statutory Instrument]; to be printed [No. 524] [Mr Michael Wills].
6 National Audit,-Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Delivering the Commercialisation of Public Sector Science [by Act]; to be printed [No. 580] [Clerk of the House].
7 Public Petitions,-Observations by the Minister of State for Education and Skills on the Petition [12th December] from Margaret Edgington of Colchester, schoolteachers, parents and others for measures to facilitate the Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum [by Standing Order]; to be printed [Clerk of the House].
Papers withdrawn:
8 Rehabilitation of Offenders,-Draft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 2002 [laid 31st January].
APPENDIX II
Standing Committees
Draft Industrial Training Levy (Construction Board) Order 2002 and the draft Industrial Training Levy (Engineering Construction Board) Order 2002,-The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr David Lepper and Mr Alan Simpson from the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Orders); and nominated in substitution Julia Drown and Mr Mark Hendrick.
APPENDIX III
Reports from Select Committees
1 Human Rights,-Eleventh Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights [Proceeds of Crime Bill: Further Report], together with Appendices; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the Report [No. 596] [Jean Corston].
2 International Development,-(1) Part of the Minutes of Evidence taken before the International Development Committee on 22nd January [The Effectiveness of the Reforms of European Development Assistance]; to be printed [No. 417-iii and -iv]; and
(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [The Effectiveness of the Reforms of European Development Assistance]; to be printed [No. 417-v]
3 Public Accounts,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee of Public Accounts [Fraud and Error in Income Support]; to be printed [No. 595-i] [Mr Edward Leigh].
4 Trade and Industry,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Trade and Industry Committee [Productivity and Competitiveness of UK Manufacturing Industry]; to be printed [No. 597-i] [Mr Martin O'Neill].
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