Votes and Proceedings

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Tuesday 7th July 1998

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

PRAYERS.

1 Deregulation Committee,--Mr Peter L. Pike reported from the Deregulation Committee the following Resolution:

    That the draft Deregulation (Exchangeable Driving Licences) Order 1998, which was laid before this House on 29th June 1998, should be approved.

    The Committee came to this Resolution without a Division.

2 Message from the Lords,--A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

    The Lords do not insist on their Amendment in lieu of the Amendment made by the Commons to the Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords], on page 14, to leave out lines 31 to 49, to which Amendment in lieu the Commons have disagreed, and they agree to the said Commons Amendment; and they do not insist on their disagreement to the Amendment made by the Commons in page 22, to leave out lines 31 to 39, but propose an Amendment in lieu of the words so left out of the Bill, to which they desire the concurrence of this House.

3 Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords],--Lords Amendment in lieu of words left out of the Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords] to be considered to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 222].

4 United Kingdom Passports,--Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision with respect to the form and appearance of United Kingdom passports: And that Mr Howard Flight, Julie Kirkbride, Mr Tim Loughton, Mr Christopher Gill, Mr Owen Paterson, Mr William Cash, Dr Julian Lewis, Mr Andrew Robathan, Mrs Angela Browning and Mr Nick Gibb do prepare and bring it in.

5 United Kingdom Passports Bill,--Mr Howard Flight accordingly presented a Bill to make provision with respect to the form and appearance of United Kingdom passports: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 9th October and to be printed [Bill 221].

6 Opposition Day [16th 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.

    Release of information to Select Committees:--A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House considers that it is wrong in principle for the Executive to seek unilaterally to impose prior conditions on the release of information properly sought by a Select Committee in pursuit of the responsibilities given to it by the House--(Sir George Young);

    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 'reaffirms that, in accordance with the House's Resolution of 19th March 1997 and the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Second Edition, January 1997), Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament; recalls that the House approved on 18th May 1998 the Government's commitment to an urgent outside investigation and publication of a full report of the Sierra Leone arms investigation; believes that nothing should be done to prejudice the conduct of that inquiry by premature public disclosure of parts of the evidence; and notes that the Foreign Secretary remains ready to make available to the Foreign Affairs Committee, on a confidential basis, the telegrams it has requested', instead thereof.--(Mrs Ann Taylor.)

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

    The House divided.

    Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Peter Brooke, Mr Peter Luff: 173.

    Tellers for the Noes, Mr John McFall, Mr David Jamieson: 339.

    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 reaffirms that, in accordance with the House's Resolution of 19th March 1997 and the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Second Edition, January 1997), Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament; recalls that the House approved on 18th May 1998 the Government's commitment to an urgent outside investigation and publication of a full report of the Sierra Leone arms investigation; believes that nothing should be done to prejudice the conduct of that inquiry by premature public disclosure of parts of the evidence; and notes that the Foreign Secretary remains ready to make available to the Foreign Affairs Committee, on a confidential basis, the telegrams it has requested.

7 Social Security,--A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That the Social Security Amendment (Lone Parents) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 766), dated 16th March 1998, a copy of which was laid before this House on 18th March, be revoked--(Mr Simon Burns):--It was negatived.

8 Adjournment,--Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.--(Mr Kevin Hughes.)

    And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till sixteen minutes to Twelve o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 11.44 p.m.

Betty Boothroyd
Speaker

Madam Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Nine o'clock.

APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1 Agriculture,--Organic Farming (Aid) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1606), dated 2nd July 1998 [by Act] [Dr John Cunningham].

2 Criminal Law,--Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia (Freezing of Funds) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1643), dated 7th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Alistair Darling].

3 Education,--Education (Start of Compulsory School Age) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1607), dated 1st July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

Other Papers:

4 Audit (Northern Ireland),--Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland on Special Education in Northern Ireland [by Statutory Instrument]; to be printed [No. 898] [Secretary Marjorie Mowlam].

5 Defence Executive Agencies,--Report and Accounts of the Defence Bills Agency for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 775] [Mr Secretary Robertson].

6 Development of Rural Wales,--Accounts of the Development Board for Rural Wales for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 942] [Clerk of the House].

7 Development of Tourism,--Accounts of the English Tourist Board for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 931] [Clerk of the House].

8 Education (Wales),--Accounts of the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority For Wales for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 932] [Clerk of the House].

9 Gift of Public Property,--Office of Public Service Minute, dated 7th July 1998, concerning the sale of surplus government property at Gill Avenue, Bristol to Bristol Council for Disabled Adults [by Command] [Dr David Clark].

10 Housing,--Report and Accounts of the Castle Vale Housing Action Trust for 1997-98 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

11 National Health Service,--Statement of Guarantee given by the Secretary of State for Health on 3rd July 1998 on loans proposed to be raised by the Ashford & St Peters Hospital National Health Service Trust [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dobson].

12 Public Petitions,--Observations by the Minister of State for School Standards on the Petition [15th June] from residents of Somerset against cuts in expenditure on schools in the county [by Standing Order]; to be printed [Clerk of the House].

13 Social Exclusion,--Report by the Social Exclusion Unit on Rough Sleeping [by Command] [Cm. 4008] [The Prime Minister].

14 United States (No. 2, 1998),--Annual Report of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission for the period 1st October 1996 to 30th September 1997 [by Command] [Cm. 3979] [Mr Secretary Cook].

APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

Draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Oman), (Air Transport) (Hong Kong), and (Taxes on Income) (Kazakhstan) Orders 1998,--The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Shaun Woodward from the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Orders; and nominated in substitution Mr Nick Gibb.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1 Deregulation,--(1) Eight Report from the Deregulation Committee [The draft Deregulation (Exchangeable Driving Licences) Order 1998]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 938]; and

    (2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 7th July [The Proposal for the Deregulation (Weights and Measures) Order 1998]; to be printed [No. 939-i]

[Mr Peter L. Pike].

2 Education and Employment,--Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education and Employment Committee on 7th July [Review of the Government's first year in office]; to be printed [No. 930-i] [Mr Derek Foster].

3 Environmental Audit,--Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environmental Audit Committee on 7th July [Water Issues]; to be printed [No. 940] [Mr Cynog Dafis].

4 Health,--Memoranda laid before the Health Committee [Children looked after by Local Authorities] [Mr David Hinchliffe].

5 Home Affairs,--Minutes of Evidence taken before the Home Affairs Committee on 7th July [Electoral law and administration]; to be printed [No. 768-v] [Mr Chris Mullin].

6 International Development,--Minutes of Evidence taken before the International Development Committee on 7th July [Commonwealth Development Corporation]; to be printed [No. 936-i] [Mr Bowen Wells].

7 Public Administration,--(1) Fifth Report from the Select Committee on Public Administration [Annual Report of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman for 1997]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the Report [No. 630];

    (2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 7th July [Annual Report 1997-98 of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration]; to be printed [No. 933]; and

    (3) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 7th July [Annual Report 1997-98 of the Health Service Commissioner]; to be printed [No. 934-i]

[Mr Rhodri Morgan].

8 Social Security,--Minutes of Evidence taken before the Social Security Committee on 7th July [Tax and Benefits]; to be printed [No. 827-iii] [Mr Archy Kirkwood].

9 Statutory Instruments,--Fortieth Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments; to be printed [No. 33-xl] [Mr David Tredinnick].

The House met at half-past Two o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1	Deregulation Committee,--Mr Peter L. Pike reported from the Deregulation Committee the following Resolution:
	That the draft Deregulation (Exchangeable Driving Licences) Order 1998, which was laid before this House on 29th June 1998, should be approved.
	The Committee came to this Resolution without a Division.
2	Message from the Lords,--A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:
	The Lords do not insist on their Amendment in lieu of the Amendment made by the Commons to the Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords], on page 14, to leave out lines 31 to 49, to which Amendment in lieu the Commons have disagreed, and they agree to the said Commons Amendment; and they do not insist on their disagreement to the Amendment made by the Commons in page 22, to leave out lines 31 to 39, but propose an Amendment in lieu of the words so left out of the Bill, to which they desire the concurrence of this House.
3	Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords],--Lords Amendment in lieu of words left out of the Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords] to be considered to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 222].
4	United Kingdom Passports,--Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision with respect to the form and appearance of United Kingdom passports: And that Mr Howard Flight, Julie Kirkbride, Mr Tim Loughton, Mr Christopher Gill, Mr Owen Paterson, Mr William Cash, Dr Julian Lewis, Mr Andrew Robathan, Mrs Angela Browning and Mr Nick Gibb do prepare and bring it in.
5	United Kingdom Passports Bill,--Mr Howard Flight accordingly presented a Bill to make provision with respect to the form and appearance of United Kingdom passports: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 9th October and to be printed [Bill 221].
6	Opposition Day [16th 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.
	Release of information to Select Committees:--A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House considers that it is wrong in principle for the Executive to seek unilaterally to impose prior conditions on the release of information properly sought by a Select Committee in pursuit of the responsibilities given to it by the House--(Sir George Young);
	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 'reaffirms that, in accordance with the House's Resolution of 19th March 1997 and the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Second Edition, January 1997), Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament; recalls that the House approved on 18th May 1998 the Government's commitment to an urgent outside investigation and publication of a full report of the Sierra Leone arms investigation; believes that nothing should be done to prejudice the conduct of that inquiry by premature public disclosure of parts of the evidence; and notes that the Foreign Secretary remains ready to make available to the Foreign Affairs Committee, on a confidential basis, the telegrams it has requested', instead thereof.--(Mrs Ann Taylor.)
	And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question;
	The House divided.
	Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Peter Brooke, Mr Peter Luff: 173.
	Tellers for the Noes, Mr John McFall, Mr David Jamieson: 339.
	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 reaffirms that, in accordance with the House's Resolution of 19th March 1997 and the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Second Edition, January 1997), Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament; recalls that the House approved on 18th May 1998 the Government's commitment to an urgent outside investigation and publication of a full report of the Sierra Leone arms investigation; believes that nothing should be done to prejudice the conduct of that inquiry by premature public disclosure of parts of the evidence; and notes that the Foreign Secretary remains ready to make available to the Foreign Affairs Committee, on a confidential basis, the telegrams it has requested.
7	Social Security,--A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That the Social Security Amendment (Lone Parents) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 766), dated 16th March 1998, a copy of which was laid before this House on 18th March, be revoked--(Mr Simon Burns):--It was negatived.
8	Adjournment,--Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.--(Mr Kevin Hughes.)
	And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till sixteen minutes to Twelve o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.
[Adjourned at 11.44 p.m.
*Betty Boothroyd* *Speaker*
Madam Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Nine o'clock.
APPENDIX I
Papers presented or laid upon the Table:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
1	Agriculture,--Organic Farming (Aid) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1606), dated 2nd July 1998 [by Act] [Dr John Cunningham].
2	Criminal Law,--Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia (Freezing of Funds) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1643), dated 7th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Alistair Darling].
3	Education,--Education (Start of Compulsory School Age) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1607), dated 1st July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
Other Papers:
4	Audit (Northern Ireland),--Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland on Special Education in Northern Ireland [by Statutory Instrument]; to be printed [No. 898] [Secretary Marjorie Mowlam].
5	Defence Executive Agencies,--Report and Accounts of the Defence Bills Agency for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 775] [Mr Secretary Robertson].
6	Development of Rural Wales,--Accounts of the Development Board for Rural Wales for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 942] [Clerk of the House].
7	Development of Tourism,--Accounts of the English Tourist Board for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 931] [Clerk of the House].
8	Education (Wales),--Accounts of the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority For Wales for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 932] [Clerk of the House].
9	Gift of Public Property,--Office of Public Service Minute, dated 7th July 1998, concerning the sale of surplus government property at Gill Avenue, Bristol to Bristol Council for Disabled Adults [by Command] [Dr David Clark].
10	Housing,--Report and Accounts of the Castle Vale Housing Action Trust for 1997-98 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].
11	National Health Service,--Statement of Guarantee given by the Secretary of State for Health on 3rd July 1998 on loans proposed to be raised by the Ashford & St Peters Hospital National Health Service Trust [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dobson].
12	Public Petitions,--Observations by the Minister of State for School Standards on the Petition [15th June] from residents of Somerset against cuts in expenditure on schools in the county [by Standing Order]; to be printed [Clerk of the House].
13	Social Exclusion,--Report by the Social Exclusion Unit on Rough Sleeping [by Command] [Cm. 4008] [The Prime Minister].
14	United States (No. 2, 1998),--Annual Report of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission for the period 1st October 1996 to 30th September 1997 [by Command] [Cm. 3979] [Mr Secretary Cook].
APPENDIX II
Standing Committees
	Draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Oman), (Air Transport) (Hong Kong), and (Taxes on Income) (Kazakhstan) Orders 1998,--The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Shaun Woodward from the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Orders; and nominated in substitution Mr Nick Gibb.
APPENDIX III
Reports from Select Committees
1	Deregulation,--(1) Eight Report from the Deregulation Committee [The draft Deregulation (Exchangeable Driving Licences) Order 1998]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 938]; and
	(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 7th July [The Proposal for the Deregulation (Weights and Measures) Order 1998]; to be printed [No. 939-i]
	[Mr Peter L. Pike].
2	Education and Employment,--Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education and Employment Committee on 7th July [Review of the Government's first year in office]; to be printed [No. 930-i] [Mr Derek Foster].
3	Environmental Audit,--Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environmental Audit Committee on 7th July [Water Issues]; to be printed [No. 940] [Mr Cynog Dafis].
4	Health,--Memoranda laid before the Health Committee [Children looked after by Local Authorities] [Mr David Hinchliffe].
5	Home Affairs,--Minutes of Evidence taken before the Home Affairs Committee on 7th July [Electoral law and administration]; to be printed [No. 768-v] [Mr Chris Mullin].
6	International Development,--Minutes of Evidence taken before the International Development Committee on 7th July [Commonwealth Development Corporation]; to be printed [No. 936-i] [Mr Bowen Wells].
7	Public Administration,--(1) Fifth Report from the Select Committee on Public Administration [Annual Report of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman for 1997]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the Report [No. 630];
	(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 7th July [Annual Report 1997-98 of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration]; to be printed [No. 933]; and
	(3) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 7th July [Annual Report 1997-98 of the Health Service Commissioner]; to be printed [No. 934-i]
	[Mr Rhodri Morgan].
8	Social Security,--Minutes of Evidence taken before the Social Security Committee on 7th July [Tax and Benefits]; to be printed [No. 827-iii] [Mr Archy Kirkwood].
9	Statutory Instruments,--Fortieth Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments; to be printed [No. 33-xl] [Mr David Tredinnick].