Votes and Proceedings

House of Commons

Session 2003 - 04
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House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Monday 18th October 2004

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

PRAYERS.

1    Gambling Bill,—Secretary Tessa Jowell, supported by the Prime Minister, Mr Secretary Prescott, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Secretary Blunkett, Mr Secretary Darling, Mr Secretary Reid, Mr Secretary Murphy, Ms Secretary Hewitt, Mr Peter Hain, Margaret Hodge and Mr Richard Caborn, presented a Bill to make provision about gambling: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 163].

Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Gambling Bill be printed [Bill 163-EN].

2    Opposition Day [19th 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.

Crime,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes the rising tide of firearms offences that has led to one gun crime being committed every hour; is appalled by the recent spate of gun-related incidents across the country; believes that after seven years the Government has failed to deal with the scourge of guns in towns and cities; further notes the link between gun crime and drugs; deplores the rise in violent crime; resolves that 40,000 more police are needed on the streets to reverse this trend; and believes that local communities should be given greater freedom to direct the efforts of their police force if streets are to be made safer—(David Davis);

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 'welcomes the record falls in crime achieved by this Government since 1997, recognising that the chances of becoming a victim of crime are now at their lowest level since records began and that gun crime fatalities are falling; recognises that these achievements are the result of record numbers of police officers on the streets, reinforced for the first time by Community Support Officers; welcomes the Government's achievements in reducing anti-social behaviour which has blighted the lives of too many of the most vulnerable people; and supports the Government's continuing programme of action to tackle crime, including the recruitment of 25,000 Community Support Officers and wardens, the provision of extra prison capacity and tougher penalties for those who break the law', instead thereof.—(Mr Secretary Blunkett.)

And the Question being proposed, That the original words stand part of the Question;

Mr Patrick McLoughlin 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;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr John Randall: 163.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Vernon Coaker, Gillian Merron: 290.

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);

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Gillian Merron, Mr Vernon Coaker: 287.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr John Randall: 162.

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 record falls in crime achieved by this Government since 1997, recognising that the chances of becoming a victim of crime are now at their lowest level since records began and that gun crime fatalities are falling; recognises that these achievements are the result of record numbers of police officers on the streets, reinforced for the first time by Community Support Officers; welcomes the Government's achievements in reducing anti-social behaviour which has blighted the lives of too many of the most vulnerable people; and supports the Government's continuing programme of action to tackle crime, including the recruitment of 25,000 Community Support Officers and wardens, the provision of extra prison capacity and tougher penalties for those who break the law.

3    Civil Partnership Bill [Lords] (Programme) (No. 2),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith pursuant to Orders [28th June 2001 and 6th November 2003 (Programming of Bills)], That the Order of 12th October 2004 (Civil Partnership Bill [Lords] (Programme)) be varied by the substitution in paragraph 2 (time for conclusion of proceedings in Standing Committee) for the words '21st October 2004' of the words '26th October 2004'—(Mr Nick Ainger):—It was agreed to.

4    Legal Services,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Legal Services Ombudsman (Extension of Remit) Regulations 2004, which were laid before this House on 15th July, be approved—(Mr Nick Ainger):—It was agreed to.

5    Northern Ireland,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Roads (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004, which was laid before this House on 7th September, be approved—(Mr Nick Ainger):—It was agreed to.

6    Industrial Policy for an Enlarged Europe,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 119 (European Standing Committees), That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 8875/04, Commission Communication entitled Fostering Structural Change: an Industrial Policy for an Enlarged Europe; and supports the actions proposed by the Commission to facilitate the process of structural change, namely better lawmaking, better exploitation of synergies between different Community policies impacting on competitiveness and analysis of the specific needs of various sectors; but believes that such analysis should concentrate on sectors with potential for growth—(Mr Nick Ainger):—It was agreed to.

7    Employment Tribunals,—Ordered, That the Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2004 (S.I., 2004, No. 1861), dated 19th July 2004, be referred to a Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation.—(Mr Nick Ainger.)

8    Public Accounts,—Ordered, That Ruth Kelly be discharged from the Committee of Public Accounts and Mr Stephen Timms be added.—(Mr Bob Ainsworth, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

9    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 Debate having continued for half an hour, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order, it being then five minutes to Eleven o'clock, till to-morrow.
[Adjourned at 10.55 p.m.
Michael J. Martin

Speaker

Mr 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    Criminal Law,—International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (Freezing of Funds and Economic Resources) Regulations 2004 (S.I., 2004, No. 2690), dated 18th October 2004 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Stephen Timms].

2    Immigration,—Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1112] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

3    Landlord and Tenant,—Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2004 (S.I., 2004, No. 2665), dated 11th October 2004 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

Papers subject to Special Parliamentary Procedure:

4    Water Industry,—Yorkshire Water Services Limited (Langthwaite Water Treatment Works First Time Filtration Scheme) Compulsory Purchase Order 2004, dated 14th January 2004, together with a Certificate by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under section 2(2) of the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Margaret Beckett].

Other Papers:

5    Armenia (No. 1, 2004),—Agreement, done at Yerevan on 15th July 2004, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Armenia on the Establishment and Activities of Cultural Centres, with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Cm. 6350] [Mr Secretary Straw].

6    Development of Tourism,—Statement of appointment and salary of Lord Marshall as Chairman of the British Tourist Authority [by Act] [Secretary Tessa Jowell].

7    Government Resources and Accounts,—(1) Account of the Royal Air Force Museum for 2003-04, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1168] [Clerk of the House].

(2) Report and Accounts of the Defence Procurement Agency for 2003-04, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1079] [Mr Secretary Hoon].

8    Industrial Organisation and Development,—Account of the Industrial Organisation and Development Act 1947 for 2003-04, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1167] [Clerk of the House].

9    Justice (Northern Ireland),—Report of the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland for 2003-04 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Murphy].

10    National Audit,—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Managing Risks to Improve Public Services [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1078-I and -II] [Clerk of the House].

11    Postal Services,—Account of the Consumer Council for Postal Services for 2003-04, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1166] [Clerk of the House].

12    Public Health,—Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Scallops) (Irish Sea) (Revocation) Order 2004 (S.I., 2004, No. 2686), dated 15th October 2004 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Reid].

13    Regulatory Reform,—Proposal for a Regulatory Reform (Prison Officers) (Industrial Action) Order 2004, together with a statement by Her Majesty's Prison Service [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

14    Reserve Forces,—Report under section 56(7) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 of a call-out order under section 56(1) of that Act [by Act] [Mr Secretary Hoon].

15    School Standards and Framework,—Accounts of the—

(1) Bolton Education Action Zone;

(2) Corby Education Action Zone; and

(3) Sunderland Education Action Zone

for 2003-04, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 1163, 1164 and 1165] [Clerk of the House].

APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

1    Mental Capacity Bill (Programming Sub-Committee),—The Speaker has appointed Mr George Howarth as a member of the Programming Sub-Committee of Standing Committee A in respect of the Bill.

2    Draft Primary Medical Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2004,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Jon Cruddas from the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order) and nominated in substitution Angela Smith.

3    Draft Local Authorities (Indemnities for Members and Officers) Order 2004,—The Speaker has appointed Mrs Irene Adams Chairman of the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Bill in place of Mr Kevin Hughes.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees
Education and Skills,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education and Skills Committee [Education Outside the Classroom]; to be printed [No. 1170-i] [Mr Barry Sheerman].