| The House met at half-past Nine o'clock. |
| PRAYERS. |
| 1 | Adjournment,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn—(Mrs Anne McGuire); |
| | And it being Two o'clock, the motion for the Adjournment of the House lapsed, without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order. |
| 2 | European Standing Committee B,—Mr Edward O'Hara reported from European Standing Committee B the following Resolution: |
| | That the Committee takes note of European Union Documents Nos. COM(99)200, the Preliminary Draft Budget (PDB) of the European Communities for 2000, and SEC(99)600, the Commission's Overview of the PDB; and supports the Government's efforts to maintain budget discipline in the Community; and European Union Document No. 7698/99, Inter-Institutional Agreement (IIA) between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6th May 1999 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure; and supports the Government in welcoming the renewal of the IIA as an important contribution to increasing the efficiency of the budgetary procedure and to maintaining budgetary discpline. |
| | Report, together with Resolution, to lie upon the Table. |
| 3 | Mr Peter Jennings, CVO, Serjeant at Arms,—The Speaker informed the House that she had received a letter from Mr Peter Jennings, CVO, Serjeant at Arms, which she read to the House, as follows: |
| | 'I write to confirm that I wish to retire on 31st December this year, when I shall be 65. |
| | I have been highly privileged to serve the House for over 22 years, most recently in a senior capacity. I would like to thank all members of the House staff, particularly those in my Department who have so ably helped me to discharge my duties. I also include the Metropolitan Police Division whose staff provide security here and the Post Office staff who provide our mail services. It has been enormously rewarding to lead such a dedicated and diverse team and to see how all those involved in it have developed to meet the ever increasing demands placed on them to meet the Departmental objective of providing "the best possible service". |
| | May I finally record my appreciation for the many kindnesses shown to me during my time here and particularly for all the support which you personally have given me during my time as Serjeant.' |
| 4 | Railways Bill,—Mr Secretary Prescott, supported by the Prime Minister, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Secretary Straw, Mr Secretary Byers, Mr Secretary Reid, Mr Secretary Michael, Mrs Helen Liddell and Glenda Jackson, presented a Bill to establish the Strategic Rail Authority and make other provision about railways: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 133]. |
| | Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Railways Bill be printed [Bill 133—EN]. |
| 5 | Empty Homes,—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for reducing the incidence of vacant dwellings; to extend the duties and powers of local authorities to that end; to require local authorities to publish empty homes strategies and to exercise their duties and powers in accordance with those strategies; and for connected purposes: And that Mr David Kidney, Dr Vincent Cable, Mr David Curry, Mrs Llin Golding, Mr David Lepper, Mr Andrew Love, Siobhain McDonagh, Ms Margaret Moran, Mr Peter L. Pike and Mr Jonathan R. Shaw do prepare and bring it in. |
| 6 | Empty Homes Bill,—Mr David Kidney accordingly presented a Bill to make provision for reducing the incidence of vacant dwellings; to extend the duties and powers of local authorities to that end; to require local authorities to publish empty homes strategies and to exercise their duties and powers in accordance with those strategies; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 23rd July and to be printed [Bill 134]. |
| 7 | Opposition day [17th 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. |
| | Dairy Industry,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes that, since 1st May 1997, the farm gate price of milk has fallen by over a quarter, the price received by farmers for cull cows has fallen by over one third and the income of dairy farmers has collapsed; condemns the Government's failure in recent CAP negotiations to secure any immediate increase in milk quota for mainland Britain whilst conceding increases for other EU countries; deplores the delay in publishing the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on Milk Marque, thus needlessly damaging confidence in the industry; expresses concern that outbreaks of TB have risen substantially; and urges the Government to remedy this crisis by addressing these issues, ending its disgraceful neglect of the dairy industry, strengthening Milk Marque and implementing the Krebs Report without further delay—(Mr Tim Yeo); |
| | An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 2, to leave out from the word 'House' to the end of the Question and to add the words 'recognises the economic difficulties faced by the dairy industry; supports the Government's efforts to reform the Common Agriculture Policy during the recent Agenda 2000 negotiations in order to move towards a freer, more competitive market; welcomes the publication of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of raw milk; notes its conclusions and looks forward to a new selling system being in place which meets the needs both of consumers and the dairy industry; endorses the Government's view that the industry itself must help shape its own future; and congratulates the Government for its support for industry initiatives to achieve this', instead thereof.—(Mr Nicholas Brown.) |
| | And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question; |
| | |
| | Tellers for the Ayes, Mrs Eleanor Laing, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 176.
|
| | Tellers for the Noes, Mr David Clelland, Mr Mike Hall: 326.
|
| | 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 recognises the economic difficulties faced by the dairy industry; supports the Government's efforts to reform the Common Agricultural Policy during the recent Agenda 2000 negotiations in order to move towards a freer, more competitive market; welcomes the publication of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of raw milk; notes its conclusions and looks forward to a new selling system being in place which meets the needs both of consumers and the dairy industry; endorses the Government's view that the industry itself must help shape its own future; and congratulates the Government for its support for industry initiatives to achieve this. |
| | Choice and Diversity in Education,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House deplores the reduction in choice and diversity in education caused by the Government's abolition of grant maintained status, introduction of ballots to close grammar schools and restriction on the ability of schools to determine their own ethos; notes with concern the threat posed to school sixth forms by the Government's review of post-16 education; condemns the pursuit of uniformity at the expense of diversity; believes that the increasing bureaucratic burdens placed on schools, teachers and governors by the Government and its practice of holding back funding at the centre, to be allocated on the basis of a complicated bidding process, have a particularly adverse impact on rural schools; and further believes that these policies will damage children's education—(Mrs Theresa May); |
| | An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 2, to leave out from the word 'House' to the end of the Question and to add the words 'welcomes the Government's success in cutting infant class sizes after 10 years of rising class sizes and the successful introduction of the literacy hour, which is restoring phonics, spelling and grammar to the primary school curriculum; notes the plans to extend daily numeracy lessons nationwide from September, which will place strong emphasis on mental arithmetic; recognises the Government's strong commitment to diversity through the rapid expansion of specialist schools and beacon schools; welcomes the success to date of the Government's policy in support of failing schools; supports the considerable work already undertaken to reduce bureaucracy in schools following years of neglect; supports the Government's new code of practice on school admissions; welcomes the new White Paper on reform of post-16 education and the clear guarantees it offers on sixth form funding; supports the Government's plans to reward good teaching; and believes that the extra £19 billion allocated to education is beginning to make a real difference to the money available to schools, not least in tackling the substantial repairs and maintenance backlog', instead thereof.—(Mr Secretary Blunkett.) |
| | And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question; |
| | |
| | Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Keith Simpson, Mrs Jacqui Lait: 129.
|
| | Tellers for the Noes, Mr Keith Hill, Mrs Anne McGuire: 352.
|
| | 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); |
| | |
| | Tellers for the Ayes, Mrs Anne McGuire, Mr Keith Hill: 321.
|
| | Tellers for the Noes, Mrs Jacqui Lait, Mr Keith Simpson: 149.
|
| | 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 successs in cutting infant class sizes after 10 years of rising class sizes and the successful introduction of the literacy hour, which is restoring phonics, spelling and grammar to the primary school curriculum; notes the plans to extend daily numeracy lessons nationwide from September, which will place strong emphasis on mental arithmetic; recognises the Government's strong commitment to diversity through the rapid expansion of specialist schools and beacon schools; welcomes the success to date of the Government's policy in support of failing schools; supports the considerable work already undertaken to reduce bureaucracy in schools following years of neglect; supports the Government's new code of practice on school admissions; welcomes the new White Paper on reform of post-16 education and the clear guarantees it offers on sixth form funding; supports the Government's plans to reward good teaching; and believes that the extra £19 billion allocated to education is beginning to make a real difference to the money available to schools, not least in tackling the substantial repairs and maintenance backlog. |
| 8 | Civil Aviation,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Stansted Airport Aircraft Movement Limit (Amendment) Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 16th June, be approved—(Mr Mike Hall)—It was agreed to. |
| 9 | Public Petitions,—A Public Petition from the Health Food Manufacturers' Association against the proposal to give the Medicines Control Agency power to classify natural health products as medicines was presented; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed. |
| 10 | Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Mike Hall.) |
| | And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till four minutes to Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. |
| [Adjourned at 10.56 p.m. |
Betty Boothroyd
Speaker |
Madam Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Eleven o'clock.
|
| APPENDIX I |
| Papers presented or laid upon the Table: |
| Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution: |
| 1 | Northern Ireland,—Draft Northern Ireland Act 1974 (Interim Period Extension) Order 1999 [by Act] [Secretary Marjorie Mowlam]. |
| Papers subject to Negative Resolution: |
| 2 | Criminal Law,—Fixed Penalty Offences Order 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1851), dated 25th June 1999 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Straw]. |
| 3 | Fire Precautions,—Fire Precautions (Workplace) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1877), dated 29th June 1999 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Straw]. |
| 4 | Income Tax,—(1) Corporation Tax (Instalment Payments) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1929), and |
| | (2) Taxes (Interest Rate) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1928), |
| | dated 6th July 1999 [by Act] [Dawn Primarolo]. |
| 5 | Social Security,—Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Amendment Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1880), dated 30th June 1999 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Darling]. |
| 6 | Sports Grounds and Sporting Events,—(1) Football Spectators (Seating) Order 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1926), dated 6th July 1999, and |
| | (2) Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) Order 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1930), dated 7th July 1999 |
| | [by Act] [Mr Secretary Smith]. |
| 7 | Terms and Conditions of Employment,—Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1925), dated 7th July 1999 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Byers]. |
| Other Papers: |
| 8 | Appropriations in Aid,—Treasury Minute, dated 7th July 1999, directing the application of certain receipts as appropriations in aid of the Vote specified in the Late Revised Estimates for 1999-2000 [by Act] [Mrs Barbara Roche]. |
| 9 | Housing,—Report and Accounts of the Castle Vale Housing Action Trust for 1998-99 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott]. |
| 10 | Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance,—Report of the Law Society of Northern Ireland on Legal Aid in Northern Ireland in 1997-98, with the Report of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Aid in Northern Ireland [by Statutory Instrument]; to be printed [No. 526] [Mr Keith Vaz]. |
| 11 | Miscellaneous (No. 25, 1999),—Second Optional Protocol, adopted at New York on 15th December 1989, to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the Death Penalty [by Command] [Cm. 4375] [Mr Secretary Cook]. |
| 12 | Pensions,—Accounts of the Pensions Compensation Board for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 682] [Clerk of the House]. |
| 13 | Police and Criminal Evidence,—(1) Account of the Police Complaints Authority for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 681] [Clerk of the House]; and |
| | (2) Report and Financial Statements of the Police Complaints Authority for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 553] [Mr Secretary Straw]. |
| 14 | Public Accounts,—Treasury Minute on the Tenth and the Twelfth to Fourteenth Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 1998-99 [by Command] [Cm. 4381] [Mrs Barbara Roche]. |
| 15 | Supply Estimates, 1999-2000,—Late Revised Estimates for 1999-2000 [by Command]; to be printed [No. 684] [Mrs Barbara Roche]. |
| 16 | Treaty Series (No. 39, 1999),—1997 Amendments, done at London on 25th September 1997, to the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (Amendments to regulation 10 and new regulation 25A of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78) (Resolution MEPC.75(40)) [by Command] [Cm. 4388] [Mr Secretary Cook]. |
| 17 | Treaty Series (No. 43, 1999),—Agreement, done at The Hague on 18th September 1998, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands concerning a Scottish Trial in the Netherlands including Annexes and Exchange of Notes [by Command] [Cm. 4378] [Mr Secretary Cook]. |
| APPENDIX II |
| Standing Committees |
| 1 | Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Bill: |
| | (1) The Speaker has allocated the Bill to Standing Committee D; and |
| | (2) the Committee of Selection has appointed seventeen Members to serve on the Committee, viz: Mr Peter Bottomley, Mr John Burnett, Christine Butler, Mr Harry Cohen, Mr Michael Jabez Foster, Mrs Eileen Gordon, Mr Nick Hawkins, Mr Keith Hill, Mr David Lock, Siobhain McDonagh, Ms Julie Morgan, Mr David Ruffley, Bob Russell, Mr Phil Sawford, Mr John M. Taylor, Mr Keith Vaz and Mr Anthony D. Wright. |
| 2 | Draft Ministerial and other Salaries Order 1999: |
| | (1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Eighth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and |
| | (2) the Committee of Selection has appointed sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Bob Blizzard, Mr Ivor Caplin, Mr Ian Cawsey, Sir Sydney Chapman, Mr Geraint Davies, Lorna Fitzsimons, Mr David Hanson, Mr John Healey, Mr Andrew Lansley, Mr Tom Levitt, Rosemary McKenna, Mr Nick St. Aubyn, Mr Jonathan Sayeed, Mr Andrew Stunell, Paddy Tipping and Mr Paul Tyler. |
| 3 | Draft North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999: |
| | (1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Ninth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and |
| | (2) the Committee of Selection has appointed sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz: Ann Clwyd, Mr James Cran, Mr Andrew Dismore, Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson, Jim Dowd, Mr Mike Gapes, Ms Harriet Harman, Mr Bob Laxton, Mr Ken Livingstone, Mr Malcolm Moss, Mr Paul Murphy, Mr Lembit Öpik, Mr Gwyn Prosser, Mr Syd Rapson, Mr Andrew Robathan and Mr David Wilshire. |
| 4 | Draft International Copper Study Group (Legal Capacities) Order 1999, the draft International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) Miscellaneous Provisions Order 1999, and the draft INTELSAT (Immunities and Privileges) (Amendment) Order 1999: |
| | (1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Orders to the Tenth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and |
| | (2) the Committee of Selection has appointed sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Ms Karen Buck, Mr David Drew, Mr Eric Forth, Mrs Cheryl Gillan, Mr David Heath, Mr Stephen Hepburn, Mr John Horam, Mr Brian Jenkins, Jane Kennedy, Mr Tony Lloyd, Mr Andrew Mackinlay, Alice Mahon, Mr Gerry Steinberg, Mr John M. Taylor, Dr Jenny Tonge and Mr Alan W. Williams. |
| 5 | Draft Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (Procedural Rules) Order 1999, the draft Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (Code of Conduct) Order 1999, and the draft Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (Guidelines) Order 1999: |
| | (1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Orders to the Eleventh Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and |
| | (2) the Committee of Selection has appointed sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: John Austin, Mr Harry Barnes, Mr Tony Colman, Mr Lawrence Cunliffe, Mr Stephen Day, Jim Dowd, Mr Win Griffiths, Mr Adam Ingram, Miss Julie Kirkbride, Dr Julian Lewis, Mr Gordon Marsden, Mr Andrew Miller, Mr Malcolm Moss, Mr Lembit Öpik, Mr William Thompson and Mr David Winnick. |
| 6 | Draft Aeroplane Noise (Amendment) Regulations 1999: |
| | (1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations to the Twelfth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and |
| | (2) the Committee of Selection has appointed sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Ms Diane Abbott, Mr Graham Allen, Mr Tom Brake, Mr Roger Casale, Mr Iain Coleman, Mr Michael Fabricant, Glenda Jackson, Ms Jenny Jones, Mrs Jacqui Lait, Mr Andrew Love, Mr Richard Page, Mr Ian Stewart, Mr Andrew Stunell, Mr Paul Truswell, Mr Derek Twigg and Mr Shaun Woodward. |
| APPENDIX III |
| Reports from Select Committees |
| 1 | Defence,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Defence Committee [Defence Research Expenditure]; to be printed [No. 616-ii] [Mr Bruce George]. |
| 2 | Education and Employment,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education Sub-Committee of the Education and Employment Committee [Highly Able Children: follow up]; to be printed [No. 680-i] [Mr Malcolm Wicks]. |
| 3 | Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs,—(1) Thirteenth Report from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee [The Operation of the Landfill Tax], together with the Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environment Sub-Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 150-I]; |
| | (2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Revision of PPG3: Housing]; to be printed [No. 490-iii]; and |
| | (3) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Transport Sub-Committee [Young and Newly-Qualified Drivers: Standards and Training]; to be printed [No. 515-iii] |
| | |
| 4 | European Scrutiny,—(1) Twenty-Fifth Report from the European Scrutiny Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 34-xxv]; and |
| | (2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Post-Council Scrutiny: the Social Affairs Council, 25 May 1999]; to be printed [No. 689] |
| | |
| 5 | Public Accounts,—(1) Twenty-ninth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts [Financial Management and Control in the European Union], to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 690]; |
| | (2) Thirtieth Report from the Committee [How the Utility Regulators are addressing the Year 2000 problems in the Utilities]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 449]; |
| | (3) Thirty-first Report from the Committee [DETR & The Welsh Office: Sale of Residual Loans to Housing Associations]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 431]; and |
| | (4) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [OFFER/OFGAS: Giving Customers a Choice—The Introduction of Competition into the Domestic Gas Market]; to be printed [No. 691-i] |
| | |
| 6 | Science and Technology,—Second Report from the Science and Technology Committee [The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 472] [Dr Michael Clark]. |
| 7 | Social Security,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Social Security Committee [The Contributory Principle]; to be printed [No. 485-iii] [Mr Archy Kirkwood]. |
|
| THE SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATE |
| The Speaker certified that the Finance Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act 1911. |
