Votes and Proceedings

House of Commons

Session 1998-99
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House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Thursday 26th November 1998

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

PRAYERS.

1 Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

    Alliance & Leicester plc (Group Reorganisation) Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act to provide for the transfer to Alliance & Leicester plc of the undertakings of Girobank plc and Alliance & Leicester Personal Finance Limited; and for related purposes; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.

2 Rating (Valuation) Bill,—Mr Secretary Prescott, supported by the Prime Minister, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Secretary Michael, Hilary Armstrong and Mr Nick Raynsford, presented a Bill to make a provision about valuation for purposes of non-domestic rates in England and Wales: And the same was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 2].

    Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Rating (Valuation) Bill be printed [Bill 2—EN].

3 Queen's Speech (Motion for an Address),—The Order of the day being read, for resuming the adjourned Debate on the Question proposed [24th November], That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, as follows:

    Most Gracious Sovereign,

    We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament;

    And the Question being again proposed:—The House resumed the adjourned Debate.

    And it being Ten o'clock, the Debate stood adjourned.

    Ordered, That the Debate be resumed to-morrow.

4 Office Costs Etc. Allowances,—Ordered, That, in the opinion of this House, the following provisions should have effect:

    (1) The limit on the office costs allowance in relation to Miss Anne Begg should be 1.55 times that determined in accordance with paragraph (a) of the Resolution of the House of 10th July 1996 for any quarter beginning with 1st April 1998.

    (2) The limit on the additional costs allowance in relation to Miss Anne Begg should be 1.55 times that determined in accordance with paragraph (1) of Part C of the Resolution of the House of 13th July 1994 for any year beginning with 1st April 1998.—(Mr Kevin Hughes.)

5 Parliamentary Privilege,—Ordered, That, in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 9th July 1997, in the last Session of Parliament, a Select Committee of six Members be appointed to join with a Committee to be appointed by the Lords, as the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege, to review parliamentary privilege and make recommendations thereon:

    That three be the Quorum of the Committee;

    That the Committee shall have power to send for persons, papers, and records; to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House; to report from time to time; and to appoint specialist advisers to supply information which is not readily available or to elucidate matters of complexity within the Committee's order of reference;

    That the proceedings of the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege in the last session of Parliament be referred to the Committee;

    That Mr Attorney General, the Lord Advocate, Mr Solicitor General and Mr Solicitor General for Scotland, being Members of either House, may attend the Committee, may take part in deliberations, may receive Committee papers and may give such other assistance to the Committee as may be appropriate, but shall not vote or make any Motion or move any Amendment or be counted in the Quorum;

    That Mr Joe Benton, Sir Patrick Cormack, Mr Bill Michie, Mrs Ann Taylor, Mr Paul Tyler and Mr Alan Williams be members of the Committee.—(Mr Kevin Hughes.)

    Message to the Lords to acquaint them therewith.

6 Business of the House,—Ordered, That Private Members' Bills shall have precedence over government business on 26th February, 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th March, 16th, 23rd and 30th April, 7th, 14th and 21st May, 11th June and 23rd July 1999.—(Mr Kevin Hughes.)

7 Sittings of the House,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 12 (House not to sit on certain Fridays), That this House shall not sit on the following Fridays: 4th, 11th and 18th December 1998 and 15th, 22nd and 29th January, 5th and 12th February, 9th July and 22nd October 1999.—(Mr Kevin Hughes.):—It was agreed to.

8 Adjournment,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn—(Mr Kevin Hughes);

    And the Motion having been made at 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 half-past Ten o'clock, till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 10.30 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 Affirmative Resolution:

1 Housing,—Draft Government of Wales Act 1998 (Housing) (Amendments) Order 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Michael].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

2 Housing,—North Hull Housing Action Trust (Dissolution) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 2871), dated 20th November 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

Other Papers:

3 Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Executive Agencies,—Report and Accounts of the Intervention Board for 1996-97 with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 10] [Mr Nicholas Brown].

4 Animals,—Report of the Animal Procedures Committee for 1997 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 14] [Mr Secretary Straw].

5 Criminal Statistics,—(1) Criminal Statistics for England and Wales for 1997 [by Command] [Cm. 4162] [Mr Secretary Straw]; and

    (2) Statistical Bulletin: Homicides in Scotland in 1997 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dewar].

6 Local Government Finance,—Statement of Guarantee given by the Treasury on 26th November 1998 on temporary borrowing by the Audit Commission from Lloyds Bank plc [by Act] [Dawn Primarolo].

APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

1 Draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Ireland) Order 1998,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Ms Patricia Hewitt and Mr Gerry Sutcliffe from the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order); and nominated in substitution Mr Alan Johnson and Dawn Primarolo.

2 Draft Rates (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Jim Dowd from the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order); and nominated in substitution Mr Greg Pope.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1 Culture, Media and Sport,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee [Back to the Dome]: to be printed [No. 21-i] [Mr Gerald Kaufman].

2 Defence,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Defence Committee on 18th November, in the last Session of Parliament [The Future of NATO]; to be printed [No. 39-i] [Mr Bruce George].

3 Health,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Health Committee [Future NHS Staffing Requirements]; to be printed [No. 38-i] [Mr David Hinchliffe].

4 International Development,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the International Development Committee [The Future of the EC Development Budget]: to be printed [No. 44-i] [Mr Bowen Wells].

5 Treasury,—(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Treasury Committee on 17th November, in the last Session of Parliament, and on 26th November [The November Inflation Report]; to be printed [Nos. 37-i & ii]; and

    (2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Sub-committee of the Treasury Committee [Office for National Statistics]; to be printed [No. 43-i]

[Mr Giles Radice].

MEMORANDUM

Chairmen's Panel,—In pursuance of Standing Order No. 4 (Chairmen's Panel), The Speaker nominated Mr Jim Cunningham, Mr Humfrey Malins, Mr Bill O'Brien and Mr Bill Olner to be additional members of the Chairmen's Panel during this Session.

The House met at half-past Two o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1	Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:
	Alliance & Leicester plc (Group Reorganisation) Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act to provide for the transfer to Alliance & Leicester plc of the undertakings of Girobank plc and Alliance & Leicester Personal Finance Limited; and for related purposes; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.
2	Rating (Valuation) Bill,—Mr Secretary Prescott, supported by the Prime Minister, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Secretary Michael, Hilary Armstrong and Mr Nick Raynsford, presented a Bill to make a provision about valuation for purposes of non-domestic rates in England and Wales: And the same was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 2].
	Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Rating (Valuation) Bill be printed [Bill 2—EN].
3	Queen's Speech (Motion for an Address),—The Order of the day being read, for resuming the adjourned Debate on the Question proposed [24th November], That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, as follows:
	Most Gracious Sovereign,
	We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament;
	And the Question being again proposed:—The House resumed the adjourned Debate.
	And it being Ten o'clock, the Debate stood adjourned.
	Ordered, That the Debate be resumed to-morrow.
4	Office Costs Etc. Allowances,—Ordered, That, in the opinion of this House, the following provisions should have effect:
	(1) The limit on the office costs allowance in relation to Miss Anne Begg should be 1.55 times that determined in accordance with paragraph (a) of the Resolution of the House of 10th July 1996 for any quarter beginning with 1st April 1998.
	(2) The limit on the additional costs allowance in relation to Miss Anne Begg should be 1.55 times that determined in accordance with paragraph (1) of Part C of the Resolution of the House of 13th July 1994 for any year beginning with 1st April 1998.—(Mr Kevin Hughes.)
5	Parliamentary Privilege,—Ordered, That, in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 9th July 1997, in the last Session of Parliament, a Select Committee of six Members be appointed to join with a Committee to be appointed by the Lords, as the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege, to review parliamentary privilege and make recommendations thereon:
	That three be the Quorum of the Committee;
	That the Committee shall have power to send for persons, papers, and records; to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House; to report from time to time; and to appoint specialist advisers to supply information which is not readily available or to elucidate matters of complexity within the Committee's order of reference;
	That the proceedings of the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege in the last session of Parliament be referred to the Committee;
	That Mr Attorney General, the Lord Advocate, Mr Solicitor General and Mr Solicitor General for Scotland, being Members of either House, may attend the Committee, may take part in deliberations, may receive Committee papers and may give such other assistance to the Committee as may be appropriate, but shall not vote or make any Motion or move any Amendment or be counted in the Quorum;
	That Mr Joe Benton, Sir Patrick Cormack, Mr Bill Michie, Mrs Ann Taylor, Mr Paul Tyler and Mr Alan Williams be members of the Committee.—(Mr Kevin Hughes.)
	Message to the Lords to acquaint them therewith.
6	Business of the House,—Ordered, That Private Members' Bills shall have precedence over government business on 26th February, 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th March, 16th, 23rd and 30th April, 7th, 14th and 21st May, 11th June and 23rd July 1999.—(Mr Kevin Hughes.)
7	Sittings of the House,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 12 (House not to sit on certain Fridays), That this House shall not sit on the following Fridays: 4th, 11th and 18th December 1998 and 15th, 22nd and 29th January, 5th and 12th February, 9th July and 22nd October 1999.—(Mr Kevin Hughes.):—It was agreed to.
8	Adjournment,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn—(Mr Kevin Hughes);
	And the Motion having been made at 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 half-past Ten o'clock, till to-morrow.
[Adjourned at 10.30 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 Affirmative Resolution:
1	Housing,—Draft Government of Wales Act 1998 (Housing) (Amendments) Order 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Michael].
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
2	Housing,—North Hull Housing Action Trust (Dissolution) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 2871), dated 20th November 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].
Other Papers:
3	Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Executive Agencies,—Report and Accounts of the Intervention Board for 1996-97 with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 10] [Mr Nicholas Brown].
4	Animals,—Report of the Animal Procedures Committee for 1997 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 14] [Mr Secretary Straw].
5	Criminal Statistics,—(1) Criminal Statistics for England and Wales for 1997 [by Command] [Cm. 4162] [Mr Secretary Straw]; and
	(2) Statistical Bulletin: Homicides in Scotland in 1997 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dewar].
6	Local Government Finance,—Statement of Guarantee given by the Treasury on 26th November 1998 on temporary borrowing by the Audit Commission from Lloyds Bank plc [by Act] [Dawn Primarolo].
APPENDIX II
Standing Committees
1	Draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Ireland) Order 1998,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Ms Patricia Hewitt and Mr Gerry Sutcliffe from the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order); and nominated in substitution Mr Alan Johnson and Dawn Primarolo.
2	Draft Rates (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Jim Dowd from the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order); and nominated in substitution Mr Greg Pope.
APPENDIX III
Reports from Select Committees
1	Culture, Media and Sport,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee [Back to the Dome]: to be printed [No. 21-i] [Mr Gerald Kaufman].
2	Defence,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Defence Committee on 18th November, in the last Session of Parliament [The Future of NATO]; to be printed [No. 39-i] [Mr Bruce George].
3	Health,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Health Committee [Future NHS Staffing Requirements]; to be printed [No. 38-i] [Mr David Hinchliffe].
4	International Development,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the International Development Committee [The Future of the EC Development Budget]: to be printed [No. 44-i] [Mr Bowen Wells].
5	Treasury,—(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Treasury Committee on 17th November, in the last Session of Parliament, and on 26th November [The November Inflation Report]; to be printed [Nos. 37-i & ii]; and
	(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Sub-committee of the Treasury Committee [Office for National Statistics]; to be printed [No. 43-i]
	[Mr Giles Radice].

MEMORANDUM
	Chairmen's Panel,—In pursuance of Standing Order No. 4 (Chairmen's Panel), The Speaker nominated Mr Jim Cunningham, Mr Humfrey Malins, Mr Bill O'Brien and Mr Bill Olner to be additional members of the Chairmen's Panel during this Session.