Votes and Proceedings

House of Commons

Session 2005 - 06
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House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Monday 4th July 2005

The House met at half-past Two o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1    First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,—Mr Eric Illsley reported from the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the draft Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2005.

Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.

2    Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,—Mrs Joan Humble reported from the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the draft Colleges of Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005.

Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.

3    Opposition Day [4th 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.

Local Taxation,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes with concern the increasing burden of local taxation; awaits the outcome of the Lyons Inquiry but rejects the proposals for a local income tax; asserts that a local income tax would entail higher taxation on hard-working families and crippling compliance costs on local businesses and would undermine the incentive to work; believes that council tax must be reformed, with the introduction of an automatic discount for pensioners and other measures, but rejects proposals to move from a local services tax based on fixed property bands to a wealth tax; calls on the Government to reject the Mayor of London's proposals for a regional income tax in London and to cancel its plans for a council tax revaluation and higher bands in England, which would be a further stealth tax, particularly on those living on fixed incomes—(Mrs Caroline Spelman);

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 continuing support for local government with its 33 per cent. grant increase since 1997; notes that the average increase in council tax in 2005-06, at 4.1 per cent., is the lowest increase in a decade, the second lowest ever, and lower than the last three council tax settlements for which the previous Government was responsible; welcomes the Government's engagement with councils to facilitate the delivery of 2.5 per cent. annual efficiency gains in local government; and looks forward to the conclusions of Sir Michael Lyons's inquiry as an important contribution to securing a fair and sustainable system of local government finance for the future', instead thereof.—(Mr David Miliband.)

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

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Michael Fabricant, Andrew Selous: 160.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Parmjit Dhanda, Mr Dave Watts: 340.

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, Mr Parmjit Dhanda, Mr Dave Watts: 287.

Tellers for the Noes, Michael Fabricant, Andrew Selous: 183.

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 continuing support for local government with its 33 per cent. grant increase since 1997; notes that the average increase in council tax in 2005-06, at 4.1 per cent., is the lowest increase in a decade, the second lowest ever, and lower than the last three council tax settlements for which the previous Government was responsible; welcomes the Government's engagement with councils to facilitate the delivery of 2.5 per cent. annual efficiency gains in local government; and looks forward to the conclusions of Sir Michael Lyons's inquiry as an important contribution to securing a fair and sustainable system of local government finance for the future.

Government Regulation,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House draws attention to the escalating cost of regulation and the increasing number of cases where regulation either achieves nothing or does positive harm to those being regulated; urges the Government to produce a deregulation bill which goes beyond exhortation to better regulation by repealing unnecessary and burdensome laws and rules; encourages the Government to table a programme for the UK Presidency of lesser and better regulation for the EU as a whole; and asks the Government to bring forward proposals which free professionals in hospitals and schools, which cut the costs of controls over elected local government, and allow business in the UK to compete more successfully against Asian and American competitors—(Mr John Redwood);

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 steps the Government is taking to remove unnecessary regulations and rationalise inspection arrangements in both the public and private sectors; acknowledges the additional freedoms given to high performing schools, hospitals and local councils; notes the lead the Government has taken in driving forward the better regulation agenda in Europe; recognises the benefits that well-targeted and proportionate regulation can bring in driving up standards; and further notes that the UK is seen by international observers as a leader in the field of regulatory reform and that the success of the UK economy reflects the approach the Government has taken', instead thereof.—(Mr John Hutton.)

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

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Michael Fabricant, Andrew Selous: 198.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Frank Roy, Tony Cunningham: 313.

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, Tony Cunningham, Mr Frank Roy: 304.

Tellers for the Noes, Michael Fabricant, Andrew Selous: 203.

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 steps the Government is taking to remove unnecessary regulations and rationalise inspection arrangements in both the public and private sectors; acknowledges the additional freedoms given to high performing schools, hospitals and local councils; notes the lead the Government has taken in driving forward the better regulation agenda in Europe; recognises the benefits that well-targeted and proportionate regulation can bring in driving up standards; and further notes that the UK is seen by international observers as a leader in the field of regulatory reform and that the success of the UK economy reflects the approach the Government has taken.

4    Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill;

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 56 (Consolidated Fund Bills), That the Bill be now read a second time:—It was agreed to.

The Bill was accordingly read a second time.

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.

5    Northern Ireland,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 115 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (delegated legislation)), That the draft Budget (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005, which was laid before this House on 9th June, be approved—(Mr Alan Campbell):—It was agreed to.

6    Adjournment (Summer),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 25 (Periodic adjournments), That this House, at its rising on Thursday 21st July, do adjourn till Monday 10th October—(Mr Alan Campbell):—It was agreed to.

7    Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Alan Campbell.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till one minute to Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.
[Adjourned at 10.59 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 delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on Friday 1st July 2005 pursuant to Standing Order No. 159 (Presentation of statutory instruments):

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1    Climate Change Levy,—Climate Change Levy (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 1716), dated 30th June 2005, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Mr Ivan Lewis].

2    Health and Safety,—Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 1732), dated 27th June 2005, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Mr Secretary Darling].

3    Medicines,—Medicines (Provision of False or Misleading Information and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 1710), dated 24th June 2005 [Ms Secretary Hewitt].

4    Social Security,—Housing Benefit (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 1719), dated 27th June 2005, with an Explanatory Memorandum [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 4th July 2005:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

5    Education,—Kent Institute of Art and Design Higher Education Corporation (Dissolution) Order 2005 (S.I, 2005, No. 1708), dated 27th June 2005 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Ruth Kelly].

6    Legal Services Commission,—Community Legal Service (Financial) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 1793), dated 4th July 2005 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Bridget Prentice].

7    National Health Service,—NHSU Abolition Order 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 1781), dated 30th June 2005 [by Act] [Ms Secretary Hewitt].

8    Supreme Court of Northern Ireland,—Court Security Officers (Designation and Employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (S.R. (N.I.), 2005, No. 326), dated 3rd July 2005 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Bridget Prentice].

Other Papers:

9    Air Force (Constitution),—Amendment list 12 to Queen's Regulations for the Royal Air Force (Fifth Edition) [by Act] [Secretary John Reid].

10    Audit Commission,—Report and Accounts of the Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England and Wales for 2004-05, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 232] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

11    European Communities (No. 1, 2005),—Agreement, done at Brussels on 6th December 2002, on Maritime Transport between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Government of the People's Republic of China, of the other part, with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Cm. 6621] [Mr Secretary Straw].

12    Government Resources and Accounts,—Department for International Development Overseas Superannuation Resource Accounts for 2004-05, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 163] [John Healey].

13    National Audit,—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Home Office: National Asylum Support Service: The provision of accommodation for asylum seekers [by Act]; to be printed [No. 130] [Clerk of the House].

14    School Standards and Framework,—Accounts of Derby North East Education Action Zone for 1st April 2004 to 16th April 2005, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 263] [Clerk of the House].

15    Statutory Instruments (Notification),—Communication declaring that the undermentioned Statutory Instrument had come into operation before copies were laid before Parliament, and explaining why such copies had not been so laid before the Instruments came into operation:

Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) (Amendment No. 4) 2005 (S.R. (N.I.), 2005, No. 314)

[by Standing Order] [The Speaker].

APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

1    Draft Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2005,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr David Clelland and Dr Nick Palmer from the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations) and nominated in substitution Ms Celia Barlow and Mr Bob Laxton.

2    Draft Colleges of Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Roger Berry, Mr John Denham, Mark Fisher and Mr John Grogan from the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order) and nominated in substitution Huw Irranca-Davies, Tom Levitt, Mr Terry Rooney and Mr Anthony Wright (Great Yarmouth).

3    Draft Army, Air Force and Naval Discipline Acts (Continuation) Order 2005,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Gerald Howarth from the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order) and nominated in substitution Mr Andrew Robathan.

European Standing Committees

4    European Union Document No. 6364/05, relating to working conditions on interoperable cross-border rail services, has been referred to European Standing Committee A.

5    European Union Document No. 7455/05, relating to the EU contribution to the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, has been referred to European Standing Committee B.

6    European Union Documents Nos. 8137/05, 8138/05 and 8139/05, relating to the EU contribution to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals, have been referred to European Standing Committee B.

7    Unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 1st June 2005, submitted by HM Treasury, relating to the preliminary Draft Budget 2006, has been referred to European Standing Committee B.

8    Unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 7th June 2005, submitted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, relating to the EU Common Strategy on Russia, has been referred to European Standing Committee B.

9    European Union Document No. 5436/05, relating to the Green Paper on economic migration, has been referred to European Standing Committee B.

10    European Union Document No. 6174/04, relating to services in the internal market, has been referred to European Standing Committee C.

11    European Union Documents Nos. 15570/04 and 15614/04, relating to nominal quantities for pre-packed products, has been referred to European Standing Committee C.

12    European Union Document No. 8635/05, relating to the marketing of genetically modified maize, has been referred to European Standing Committee A.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1    European Scrutiny,—(1) First Report from the European Scrutiny Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 34-i]; and

(2) Memoranda laid before the European Scrutiny Committee [Ministerial Correspondence]

[Mr Jimmy Hood].

2    Select Committees (Choice of Chairman),—Mr Jimmy Hood reported from the European Scrutiny Committee, That he had been chosen Chairman of the Committee.

THE SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATE
The Speaker certified that the Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act 1911.