Votes and Proceedings

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Thursday 25th June 1998

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

PRAYERS.

1 Private Bills [Lords] (No Standing Order not previously inquired into applicable),--The Speaker laid upon the Table a Report from one of the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in the case of the following Bill, originating in the Lords and referred after the First Reading thereof, no Standing Order not previously inquired into is applicable thereto, viz.:

    Alliance & Leicester plc (Group Reorganisation) Bill [Lords].

    Bill to be read a second time.

2 Lloyds TSB Bill [Lords],--The Order of the day being read, for the third reading of the Lloyds TSB Bill [Lords];

    Ordered, That the Bill be read the third time on Thursday 2nd July.

3 Liaison,--Mr Robert Sheldon reported, pursuant to Standing Order No. 145 (Liaison Committee), That the Liaison Committee had directed him to report the following recommendations for the allocation of time for the consideration of Estimates on allotted days (being the first and second allotted days in the present Session).

    First allotted day: That a day not later than 5th August be allotted for the consideration of the following Estimates for the financial year 1998-99;

    1. Class IX, Vote 1: Department for Education and Employment: programmes and central services in so far as it relates to further education,

    2. Class XVII, Vote 1: Cabinet Office: Office of Public Service in so far as it relates to the Government's proposals for a Freedom of Information Act

    and that debate on the first Estimate be interrupted not later than three hours after its commencement.

    Second allotted day: That a day not later than 5th August be allotted for the consideration of the following Estimates for the financial year 1998-99:

    1. Class IV, Votes 1 and 2: Intervention Board-Executive Agency and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in so far as they relate to the UK Beef Industry,

    2. Class V, Vote 2, Department of Trade and Industry: science in so far as it relates to the structure and funding of university research

    and that debate on the first Estimate be interrupted not later than three hours after its commencement.

    Report to lie upon the Table.

4 Competition Bill [Lords],--Mr Peter Atkinson reported from Standing Committee G, That it had gone through the Competition Bill [Lords], and made Amendments thereunto.

    Bill, as amended in the Standing Committee, to be considered to-morrow; and to be printed [Bill 213].

    Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to be printed [No. 880].

5 Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,--Mr John McWilliam reported from the Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the draft Child Benefit and Social Security (Fixing and adjustment of rates) (Amendment) Regulations 1998.

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

6 Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords],--Lords Amendment in lieu of a Commons Amendment, and Lords Reason for disagreeing to a Commons Amendment to the Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords] to be considered to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 212].

7 Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) (Amendment) Bill [Lords],--The Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) (Amendment) Bill [Lords] was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 3rd July and to be printed [Bill 214].

8 Opposition day [14th allotted day],--It being an allotted day at the disposal of the second largest opposition party, in pursuance of Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business), the House proceeded to consider Opposition business.

    Sitting on Friday 3rd July,--Resolved, That this House supports the Energy Efficiency Bill and the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Bill, as amended and properly scrutinised in Standing Committee; trusts that they can now complete all remaining stages on Friday 3rd July; and urges the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons to re-examine the procedure for Private Members' Bills.--(Mr Paul Tyler.)

    Government Strategy for Social Welfare,--A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes that Britain spends less on welfare as a percentage of GDP than many of its European partners; believes that economic growth and enterprise must be matched by policies designed to promote equality and social justice, and in this light expresses concern over the Government's recent actions in respect of benefits for single parents and claimants of disability living allowance; and calls on the Government to ensure that any further reform of the welfare system focuses on the needs of the most vulnerable in society rather than the demands of the Treasury and is neither discriminatory, economically inept, morally repugnant or spiritually bereft--(Mr John Swinney);

    An Amendment was proposed, in line 2, to leave out from the word 'House' to the end and add the words 'welcomes the Government's comprehensive approach to welfare reform around the principle of work for those who can, security for those who cannot, which was set out in the Welfare Reform Green Paper; notes the Government's commitment to consultation with organisations of, and for, disabled people, and the substantial safeguards included in the Benefit Integrity Project; notes the Government's commitment to helping today's and tomorrow's pensioners and welcomes the establishment of the Pensions Review and the action taken already to help today's pensioners through cutting VAT on fuel and paying winter fuel payments to all pensioners; notes that the New Deals for Lone Parents, for the Young and Long-Term Unemployed and for Disabled People are the largest assault on worklessness and social exclusion ever undertaken in Britain; and welcomes the action taken by the Government in the Budget to support families and children through increasing child benefit and the family premium in income support and by the proposals to introduce a working family tax credit and a disabled person's tax credit', instead thereof--(Mr Frank Field).

    Question, That the original words stand part of the Question, put and 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 welcomes the Government's comprehensive approach to welfare reform around the principle of work for those who can, security for those who cannot, which was set out in the Welfare Reform Green Paper; notes the Government's commitment to consultation with organisations of, and for, disabled people, and the substantial safeguards included in the Benefit Integrity Project; notes the Government's commitment to helping today's and tomorrow's pensioners and welcomes the establishment of the Pensions Review and the action taken already to help today's pensioners through cutting VAT on fuel and paying winter fuel payments to all pensioners; notes that the New Deals for Lone Parents, for the Young and Long-Term Unemployed and for Disabled People are the largest assault on worklessness and social exclusion ever undertaken in Britain; and welcomes the action taken by the Government in the Budget to support families and children through increasing child benefit and the family premium in income support and by the proposals to introduce a working family tax credit and a disabled person's tax credit.

9 Adjournment,--Resolved, That this House do now adjourn--(Mr Clive Betts.)

    And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty nine minutes past Eight o'clock, adjourned till Monday 29th June.

[Adjourned at 8.29 p.m.

Betty Boothroyd
Speaker

Madam Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Two o'clock on Monday 29th June.

APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1 Animals,--Draft Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amendment) Regulations 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Straw].

2 Local Government Finance (Wales),--Special Grant Report (No. 3) (Wales) 1998 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 832] [Mr Secretary Davies].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

3 Education,--(1) Education (Baseline Assessment) (England) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1551), and

    (2) Loughborough College of Art and Design Higher Education Corporation (Dissolution) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1533),

dated 23rd June 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

4 Financial Services,--Financial Services (Designated Countries and Territories) (Overseas Insurance Companies) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1550), dated 24th June 1998 [by Act] [Mrs Helen Liddell].

5 Northern Ireland,--Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1506), dated 24th June 1998 [by Act] [Mrs Ann Taylor].

6 Pensions,--Occupational Pension Schemes (Scheme Administration) Amendment Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1494), dated 18th June 1998 [by Act] [Secretary Harriet Harman].

7 Roads and Bridges (Scotland),--Road Humps (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1448), dated 7th June 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dewar].

Other Papers:

8 Appropriations in Aid,--Treasury Minute, dated 25th June 1998, directing the application of certain receipts as appropriations in aid of the votes specified in the Revised Estimates, Summer Supplementary Estimates and New Estimates for 1998-99 [by Act] [Dawn Primarolo].

9 Crown Agents,--(1) Accounts of the Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board for 1997, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 831] [Clerk of the House]; and

    (2) Report of the Chairman of the Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board for 1997 [by Act] [Secretary Clare Short].

10 Education,--Account of the Education Assets Board for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 875] [Clerk of the House].

11 Local Government, Planning and Land,--Account of the Grants and Loans made to the Urban Development Corporations by the Secretary of State for the Environment for 1996-97, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 876] [Clerk of the House].

12 Prisons (Scotland),--Report of the Scottish Prisons Complaints Commission for 1997 [by Command] [Cm. 3983] [Mr Secretary Dewar].

13 Sierra Leone Arms Investigation,--Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minute concerning a contingent liability consequent upon indemnification of Sir Thomas Legg KCB QC, Sir Robin Ibbs KBE and the Secretariat of the Investigation [by Command] [Mr Secretary Cook].

14 Supply Estimates, 1998-99,--Revised Estimates, Summer Supplementary Estimates and New Estimates for 1998-99 [by Command]; to be printed [No. 783] [Dawn Primarolo].

15 United Nations,--(1) United Nations Arms Embargoes (Amendment) (Sierra Leone) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1501),

    (2) United Nations Arms Embargoes (Channel Islands) (Amendment) (Sierra Leone) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1507),

    (3) United Nations Arms Embargoes (Dependent Territories) (Amendment) (Sierra Leone) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1502), and

    (4) United Nations Arms Embargoes (Isle of Man) (Amendment) (Sierra Leone) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1508),

dated 24th June 1998 [by Act] [Mrs Ann Taylor].

APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

1 Draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Oman) Order 1998, draft Double Taxation Relief (Air Transport) (Hong Kong) Order 1998 and draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Kazakhstan) Order 1998,--The Speaker has appointed Mr Bowen Wells Chairman of the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Orders.

2 Draft Export and Investment Guarantees (Limit on Foreign Currency Commitments) Order 1998,--The Speaker has appointed Mr Frank Cook Chairman of the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.

3 Draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998,--The Speaker has appointed Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody Chairman of the Tenth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.

4 Northern Ireland Grand Committee,--The Speaker has appointed Mr Peter Atkinson Chairman of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee in respect of its meeting on Thursday 2nd July.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

Treasury,--(1) Fifth Special Report from the Treasury Committee [The Government's Response to the Committee's Fourth Report, on The 1998 Budget] [No. 877]; and

    (2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 25th June [Financial Services Authority]; to be printed [No. 712-iii]

[Mr Giles Radice]

CORRIGENDA

(1) In the Votes and Proceedings for Monday 15th June 1998, in Appendix I, item 1 (Exchequer,--Treasury Bills (Amendment) Regulations (S.I., 1998, No. 1450)) should not have appeared under the heading 'Papers subject to Negative Resolution', as the instrument is not subject to parliamentary procedure.

(2) In the Votes and Proceedings for Tuesday 23rd June 1998, item 5, paragraph 2 should have read as follows:

    Bill, not amended in the Committee and as amended in the Standing Committee, to be considered to-morrow, and to be printed [Bill 207].

The House met at half-past Two o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1	Private Bills [Lords] (No Standing Order not previously inquired into applicable),--The Speaker laid upon the Table a Report from one of the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in the case of the following Bill, originating in the Lords and referred after the First Reading thereof, no Standing Order not previously inquired into is applicable thereto, viz.:
	Alliance & Leicester plc (Group Reorganisation) Bill [Lords].
	Bill to be read a second time.
2	Lloyds TSB Bill [Lords],--The Order of the day being read, for the third reading of the Lloyds TSB Bill [Lords];
	Ordered, That the Bill be read the third time on Thursday 2nd July.
3	Liaison,--Mr Robert Sheldon reported, pursuant to Standing Order No. 145 (Liaison Committee), That the Liaison Committee had directed him to report the following recommendations for the allocation of time for the consideration of Estimates on allotted days (being the first and second allotted days in the present Session).
	First allotted day: That a day not later than 5th August be allotted for the consideration of the following Estimates for the financial year 1998-99;
	1. Class IX, Vote 1: Department for Education and Employment: programmes and central services in so far as it relates to further education,
	2. Class XVII, Vote 1: Cabinet Office: Office of Public Service in so far as it relates to the Government's proposals for a Freedom of Information Act
	and that debate on the first Estimate be interrupted not later than three hours after its commencement.
	Second allotted day: That a day not later than 5th August be allotted for the consideration of the following Estimates for the financial year 1998-99:
	1. Class IV, Votes 1 and 2: Intervention Board-Executive Agency and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in so far as they relate to the UK Beef Industry,
	2. Class V, Vote 2, Department of Trade and Industry: science in so far as it relates to the structure and funding of university research
	and that debate on the first Estimate be interrupted not later than three hours after its commencement.
	Report to lie upon the Table.
4	Competition Bill [Lords],--Mr Peter Atkinson reported from Standing Committee G, That it had gone through the Competition Bill [Lords], and made Amendments thereunto.
	Bill, as amended in the Standing Committee, to be considered to-morrow; and to be printed [Bill 213].
	Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to be printed [No. 880].
5	Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,--Mr John McWilliam reported from the Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the draft Child Benefit and Social Security (Fixing and adjustment of rates) (Amendment) Regulations 1998.
	Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
6	Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords],--Lords Amendment in lieu of a Commons Amendment, and Lords Reason for disagreeing to a Commons Amendment to the Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords] to be considered to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 212].
7	Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) (Amendment) Bill [Lords],--The Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) (Amendment) Bill [Lords] was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 3rd July and to be printed [Bill 214].
8	Opposition day [14th allotted day],--It being an allotted day at the disposal of the second largest opposition party, in pursuance of Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business), the House proceeded to consider Opposition business.
	Sitting on Friday 3rd July,--Resolved, That this House supports the Energy Efficiency Bill and the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Bill, as amended and properly scrutinised in Standing Committee; trusts that they can now complete all remaining stages on Friday 3rd July; and urges the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons to re-examine the procedure for Private Members' Bills.--(Mr Paul Tyler.)
	Government Strategy for Social Welfare,--A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes that Britain spends less on welfare as a percentage of GDP than many of its European partners; believes that economic growth and enterprise must be matched by policies designed to promote equality and social justice, and in this light expresses concern over the Government's recent actions in respect of benefits for single parents and claimants of disability living allowance; and calls on the Government to ensure that any further reform of the welfare system focuses on the needs of the most vulnerable in society rather than the demands of the Treasury and is neither discriminatory, economically inept, morally repugnant or spiritually bereft--(Mr John Swinney);
	An Amendment was proposed, in line 2, to leave out from the word 'House' to the end and add the words 'welcomes the Government's comprehensive approach to welfare reform around the principle of work for those who can, security for those who cannot, which was set out in the Welfare Reform Green Paper; notes the Government's commitment to consultation with organisations of, and for, disabled people, and the substantial safeguards included in the Benefit Integrity Project; notes the Government's commitment to helping today's and tomorrow's pensioners and welcomes the establishment of the Pensions Review and the action taken already to help today's pensioners through cutting VAT on fuel and paying winter fuel payments to all pensioners; notes that the New Deals for Lone Parents, for the Young and Long-Term Unemployed and for Disabled People are the largest assault on worklessness and social exclusion ever undertaken in Britain; and welcomes the action taken by the Government in the Budget to support families and children through increasing child benefit and the family premium in income support and by the proposals to introduce a working family tax credit and a disabled person's tax credit', instead thereof--(Mr Frank Field).
	Question, That the original words stand part of the Question, put and 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 welcomes the Government's comprehensive approach to welfare reform around the principle of work for those who can, security for those who cannot, which was set out in the Welfare Reform Green Paper; notes the Government's commitment to consultation with organisations of, and for, disabled people, and the substantial safeguards included in the Benefit Integrity Project; notes the Government's commitment to helping today's and tomorrow's pensioners and welcomes the establishment of the Pensions Review and the action taken already to help today's pensioners through cutting VAT on fuel and paying winter fuel payments to all pensioners; notes that the New Deals for Lone Parents, for the Young and Long-Term Unemployed and for Disabled People are the largest assault on worklessness and social exclusion ever undertaken in Britain; and welcomes the action taken by the Government in the Budget to support families and children through increasing child benefit and the family premium in income support and by the proposals to introduce a working family tax credit and a disabled person's tax credit.
9	Adjournment,--Resolved, That this House do now adjourn--(Mr Clive Betts.)
	And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty nine minutes past Eight o'clock, adjourned till Monday 29th June.
[Adjourned at 8.29 p.m.
*Betty Boothroyd* *Speaker*
Madam Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Two o'clock on Monday 29th June.
APPENDIX I
Papers presented or laid upon the Table:
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
1	Animals,--Draft Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amendment) Regulations 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Straw].
2	Local Government Finance (Wales),--Special Grant Report (No. 3) (Wales) 1998 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 832] [Mr Secretary Davies].
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
3	Education,--(1) Education (Baseline Assessment) (England) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1551), and
	(2) Loughborough College of Art and Design Higher Education Corporation (Dissolution) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1533),
	dated 23rd June 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
4	Financial Services,--Financial Services (Designated Countries and Territories) (Overseas Insurance Companies) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1550), dated 24th June 1998 [by Act] [Mrs Helen Liddell].
5	Northern Ireland,--Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1506), dated 24th June 1998 [by Act] [Mrs Ann Taylor].
6	Pensions,--Occupational Pension Schemes (Scheme Administration) Amendment Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1494), dated 18th June 1998 [by Act] [Secretary Harriet Harman].
7	Roads and Bridges (Scotland),--Road Humps (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1448), dated 7th June 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dewar].
Other Papers:
8	Appropriations in Aid,--Treasury Minute, dated 25th June 1998, directing the application of certain receipts as appropriations in aid of the votes specified in the Revised Estimates, Summer Supplementary Estimates and New Estimates for 1998-99 [by Act] [Dawn Primarolo].
9	Crown Agents,--(1) Accounts of the Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board for 1997, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 831] [Clerk of the House]; and
	(2) Report of the Chairman of the Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board for 1997 [by Act] [Secretary Clare Short].
10	Education,--Account of the Education Assets Board for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 875] [Clerk of the House].
11	Local Government, Planning and Land,--Account of the Grants and Loans made to the Urban Development Corporations by the Secretary of State for the Environment for 1996-97, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 876] [Clerk of the House].
12	Prisons (Scotland),--Report of the Scottish Prisons Complaints Commission for 1997 [by Command] [Cm. 3983] [Mr Secretary Dewar].
13	Sierra Leone Arms Investigation,--Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minute concerning a contingent liability consequent upon indemnification of Sir Thomas Legg KCB QC, Sir Robin Ibbs KBE and the Secretariat of the Investigation [by Command] [Mr Secretary Cook].
14	Supply Estimates, 1998-99,--Revised Estimates, Summer Supplementary Estimates and New Estimates for 1998-99 [by Command]; to be printed [No. 783] [Dawn Primarolo].
15	United Nations,--(1) United Nations Arms Embargoes (Amendment) (Sierra Leone) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1501),
	(2) United Nations Arms Embargoes (Channel Islands) (Amendment) (Sierra Leone) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1507),
	(3) United Nations Arms Embargoes (Dependent Territories) (Amendment) (Sierra Leone) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1502), and
	(4) United Nations Arms Embargoes (Isle of Man) (Amendment) (Sierra Leone) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1508),
	dated 24th June 1998 [by Act] [Mrs Ann Taylor].
APPENDIX II
Standing Committees
1	Draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Oman) Order 1998, draft Double Taxation Relief (Air Transport) (Hong Kong) Order 1998 and draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Kazakhstan) Order 1998,--The Speaker has appointed Mr Bowen Wells Chairman of the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Orders.
2	Draft Export and Investment Guarantees (Limit on Foreign Currency Commitments) Order 1998,--The Speaker has appointed Mr Frank Cook Chairman of the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.
3	Draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998,--The Speaker has appointed Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody Chairman of the Tenth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.
4	Northern Ireland Grand Committee,--The Speaker has appointed Mr Peter Atkinson Chairman of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee in respect of its meeting on Thursday 2nd July.
APPENDIX III
Reports from Select Committees
	Treasury,--(1) Fifth Special Report from the Treasury Committee [The Government's Response to the Committee's Fourth Report, on The 1998 Budget] [No. 877]; and
	(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 25th June [Financial Services Authority]; to be printed [No. 712-iii]
	[Mr Giles Radice]

CORRIGENDA
(1)	In the Votes and Proceedings for Monday 15th June 1998, in Appendix I, item 1 (Exchequer,--Treasury Bills (Amendment) Regulations (S.I., 1998, No. 1450)) should not have appeared under the heading 'Papers subject to Negative Resolution', as the instrument is not subject to parliamentary procedure.
(2)	In the Votes and Proceedings for Tuesday 23rd June 1998, item 5, paragraph 2 should have read as follows:
	Bill, not amended in the Committee and as amended in the Standing Committee, to be considered to-morrow, and to be printed [Bill 207].