Votes and Proceedings

House of Commons

Session 1998-99
Publications on the internet

House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Monday 12th July 1999

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

PRAYERS.

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

    Academic and Academic-related Staff Pay and Conditions Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill to make provision with respect to the remuneration, recruitment, retention and other conditions of employment of academic and academic-related staff, and for connected purposes, to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.

2 Academic and Academic-related Staff Pay and Conditions Bill [Lords],—The Academic and Academic-related Staff Pay and Conditions Bill [Lords] was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 23rd July and to be printed [Bill 137].

3 Northern Ireland Bill,—Secretary Marjorie Mowlam, supported by the Prime Minister, Mr Secretary Prescott, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Secretary Cook, Mr Secretary Straw, Mr Secretary Robertson, Mr Secretary Michael, Mr Secretary Reid and Mr Paul Murphy presented a Bill to make provision for the suspension in certain circumstances of devolved government in Northern Ireland and the exercise of certain functions conferred by or under Part V of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 136].

    Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Northern Ireland Bill to be printed [Bill 136-EN].

4 Standards and Privileges,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That this House—

    (i) approves the Eighth Report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges (House of Commons Paper No. 607); and

    (ii) accordingly suspends Mr Ernie Ross, Member for Dundee West, from the service of the House for ten sitting days—(Margaret Beckett);

    The House proceeded to a Division.

    Jane Kennedy and Mr Kevin Hughes were appointed Tellers for the Ayes, but no Member being willing to act as Teller for the Noes, the Deputy Speaker declared that the Ayes had it.

    Resolved, That this House—

    (i) approves the Eighth Report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges (House of Commons Paper No. 607); and

    (ii) accordingly suspends Mr Ernie Ross, Member for Dundee West, from the service of the House for ten sitting days.

5 Estimates Day [2nd allotted day],—The House proceeded, pursuant to the Resolution [29th June], to consider the Estimates appointed for consideration under Standing Order No. 145 (Liaison Committee).

    Estimates, 1999-2000 (Class I, Vote 4),—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That a further sum not exceeding £59,500,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st March 2000 for expenditure by the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England on administration and inspection, including the inspection of schools and other educational institutions, funded nursery providers and local education authorities.—(Jane Kennedy.)

    The Debate was concluded, and the Question necessary to dispose of proceedings was deferred, pursuant to paragraph (4) of Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates).

    Class III,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That a further revised sum not exceeding £25,917,026,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st March 2000 for expenditure by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.—(Mr David Hanson.)

    And it being Ten o'clock, the Speaker interrupted the Proceedings, and the Question necessary to dispose of the proceedings was deferred.

    The Speaker, pursuant to paragraph (5) of Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates), put the deferred Questions on Estimates 1999-2000, (Class I, Vote 4 and Class III).

Class I, Vote IV

    Resolved, That a further sum not exceeding £59,500,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st March 2000 for expenditure by the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England on administration and inspection, including the inspection of schools and other educational institutions, funded nursery providers and local education authorities.

Class III

    Resolved, That a further revised sum not exceeding £25,917,026,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st March 2000 for expenditure by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

6 Estimates and Supplementary Estimates, 1999-2000,—The Speaker then put the Questions which she was required to put pursuant to paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 55 (Questions on voting of estimates, &c.).

    Resolved, That a further sum not exceeding £97,900,070,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges for Defence and Civil Services for the year ending on 31st March 2000, as set out in House of Commons Papers Nos. 336, 337, 338, 520 and 684.

    Ordered, That a Bill be brought be brought in upon the foregoing Resolutions: And that the Chairman of Ways and Means, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Alan Milburn, Dawn Primarolo, Mrs Barbara Roche and Ms Patricia Hewitt do prepare and bring it in.

7 Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill,—Mrs Barbara Roche accordingly presented a Bill to apply a sum out of the Consolidated Fund to the service of the year ending on 31st March 2000; to appropriate the supplies granted in this Session of Parliament; and to repeal certain Consolidated Fund and Appropriation Acts: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 135].

8 Food Standards Bill [Ways and Means],—A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Food Standards Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment of sums into the Consolidation Fund.—(Mr Clive Betts.)

    The House divided.

    Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Clive Betts, Mr Robert Ainsworth: 223.

    Tellers for the Noes, Mr Douglas Hogg, Mr Christopher Gill: 2.

    So the Question was agreed to.

    Resolved, That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Food Standards Bill it is expedient to authorise the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund.

9 Northern Ireland Bill,—Ordered, That, in respect of the Northern Ireland Bill, notices of Amendments, new Clauses and new Schedules to be moved in Committee may be accepted by the Clerks at the Table before the Bill has been read a second time.—(Mr Mike Hall.)

10 Business of the House,—Ordered, That, at the sitting on Thursday 15th July,

    (1) any Message received from the Lords relating to the Northern Ireland Bill may be considered, though opposed, at any hour; and

    (2) the House shall not adjourn until the Speaker shall have reported the Royal Assent to any Act agreed upon by both Houses.—(Mr Mike Hall.)

11 Business of the House,—Ordered, That, at the sitting on Friday 16th July, proceedings on the Motion for the adjournment of the House in the name of the Prime Minister may continue for up to five hours and may be proceeded with, though opposed, after half-past Two o'clock, and in calculating that period of five hours, the time taken by any interruption of the proceedings under paragraph 4 of Standing Order No. 11 (Friday sittings) shall be disregarded.—(Mr Mike Hall.)

12 Public Petitions,—A Public Petition from Consumers for Health Choice, the Health Food Manufacturers' Association, the National Association of Health Stores and others against the proposal to give the Medicines Control Agency power to classify natural health products as medicines was presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.

13 Adjournment,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn—(Mr Mike Hall);

    And the Motion having been made after 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 twenty-nine minutes past Eleven o'clock, till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 11.29 p.m.

Betty Boothroyd
Speaker

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

APPENDIX I

Papers delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on Friday 9th July 1999 (Non-sitting Friday, S.O. No. 12) pursuant to Standing Order No. 159 (Presentation of Statutory Instruments):

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1 Consumer Credit,—Consumer Credit (Exempt Agreements) (Amendment) Order 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1956), dated 8th July 1999 [Mr Secretary Byers].

2 Income Tax,—(1) Retirement Benefits Schemes (Continuation of Rights of Members of Approved Schemes) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1963), and

    (2) Retirement Benefits Schemes (Restriction on Discretion to Approve) (Additional Voluntary Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1964),

dated 9th July 1999 [Dawn Primarolo].

3 Road Traffic,—Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1959), dated 8th July 1999 [Mr Secretary Prescott].

4 Social Security,—(1) Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1935), dated 7th July 1999 [Mr Secretary Darling]; and

    (2) Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 4) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1966), and

    (3) Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1965),

dated 9th July 1999 [Dawn Primarolo].

Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 12th July 1999:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

5 Road Traffic,—Draft Courses for Drink-Drive Offenders (Experimental Period) (Termination of Restrictions) Order 1999 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

6 Social Security,—Income Support (General) and Jobseeker's Allowance Amendment Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1921), dated 5th July 1999 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Darling].

Other Papers:

7 Data Protection,—Account of the Data Protection Registrar for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 705] [Clerk of the House].

8 Development of Tourism,—Accounts of the British Tourist Authority for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 704] [Clerk of the House].

9 Museums and Galleries,—Accounts of the Museums and Galleries Commission for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 703] [Clerk of the House].

10 Pensions,—Report of the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority for 1998-99 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Darling].

11 Police,—Report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for 1998-99 [by Command] [Mr Secretary Straw].

12 Public Petitions,—Observations by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on the Petition [18th January] from Residents of the Parish of Wing in Buckinghamshire relating to a proposed Wing by-pass [by Standing Order]; to be printed [Clerk of the House].

APPENDIX II

Reports from Select Committees

1 Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs,—Third Special Report from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee [Government Response to the Ninth Report from the Committee, on the Integrated Transport White Paper]; to be printed [No. 708] [Mr Andrew F. Bennett].

2 Health,—Fifth Report from the Health Committee [The Regulation of Private and other Independent Healthcare], together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 281]; and

    (2) Memoranda laid before the Committee [The Regulation of Private and other Independent Healthcare]

[Mr David Hinchliffe].

The House met at half-past Two o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1	Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:
	Academic and Academic-related Staff Pay and Conditions Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill to make provision with respect to the remuneration, recruitment, retention and other conditions of employment of academic and academic-related staff, and for connected purposes, to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.
2	Academic and Academic-related Staff Pay and Conditions Bill [Lords],—The Academic and Academic-related Staff Pay and Conditions Bill [Lords] was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 23rd July and to be printed [Bill 137].
3	Northern Ireland Bill,—Secretary Marjorie Mowlam, supported by the Prime Minister, Mr Secretary Prescott, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Secretary Cook, Mr Secretary Straw, Mr Secretary Robertson, Mr Secretary Michael, Mr Secretary Reid and Mr Paul Murphy presented a Bill to make provision for the suspension in certain circumstances of devolved government in Northern Ireland and the exercise of certain functions conferred by or under Part V of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 136].
	Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Northern Ireland Bill to be printed [Bill 136-EN].
4	Standards and Privileges,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That this House—
	(i) approves the Eighth Report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges (House of Commons Paper No. 607); and
	(ii) accordingly suspends Mr Ernie Ross, Member for Dundee West, from the service of the House for ten sitting days—(Margaret Beckett);
	The House proceeded to a Division.
	Jane Kennedy and Mr Kevin Hughes were appointed Tellers for the Ayes, but no Member being willing to act as Teller for the Noes, the Deputy Speaker declared that the Ayes had it.
	Resolved, That this House—
	(i) approves the Eighth Report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges (House of Commons Paper No. 607); and
	(ii) accordingly suspends Mr Ernie Ross, Member for Dundee West, from the service of the House for ten sitting days.
5	Estimates Day [2nd allotted day],—The House proceeded, pursuant to the Resolution [29th June], to consider the Estimates appointed for consideration under Standing Order No. 145 (Liaison Committee).
	Estimates, 1999-2000 (Class I, Vote 4),—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That a further sum not exceeding £59,500,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st March 2000 for expenditure by the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England on administration and inspection, including the inspection of schools and other educational institutions, funded nursery providers and local education authorities.—(Jane Kennedy.)
	The Debate was concluded, and the Question necessary to dispose of proceedings was deferred, pursuant to paragraph (4) of Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates).
	Class III,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That a further revised sum not exceeding £25,917,026,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st March 2000 for expenditure by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.—(Mr David Hanson.)
	And it being Ten o'clock, the Speaker interrupted the Proceedings, and the Question necessary to dispose of the proceedings was deferred.
	The Speaker, pursuant to paragraph (5) of Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates), put the deferred Questions on Estimates 1999-2000, (Class I, Vote 4 and Class III).
Class I, Vote IV
	Resolved, That a further sum not exceeding £59,500,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st March 2000 for expenditure by the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England on administration and inspection, including the inspection of schools and other educational institutions, funded nursery providers and local education authorities.
Class III
	Resolved, That a further revised sum not exceeding £25,917,026,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st March 2000 for expenditure by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
6	Estimates and Supplementary Estimates, 1999-2000,—The Speaker then put the Questions which she was required to put pursuant to paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 55 (Questions on voting of estimates, &c.).
	Resolved, That a further sum not exceeding £97,900,070,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges for Defence and Civil Services for the year ending on 31st March 2000, as set out in House of Commons Papers Nos. 336, 337, 338, 520 and 684.
	Ordered, That a Bill be brought be brought in upon the foregoing Resolutions: And that the Chairman of Ways and Means, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Alan Milburn, Dawn Primarolo, Mrs Barbara Roche and Ms Patricia Hewitt do prepare and bring it in.
7	Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill,—Mrs Barbara Roche accordingly presented a Bill to apply a sum out of the Consolidated Fund to the service of the year ending on 31st March 2000; to appropriate the supplies granted in this Session of Parliament; and to repeal certain Consolidated Fund and Appropriation Acts: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 135].
8	Food Standards Bill [Ways and Means],—A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Food Standards Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment of sums into the Consolidation Fund.—(Mr Clive Betts.)
	The House divided.
	Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Clive Betts, Mr Robert Ainsworth: 223.
	Tellers for the Noes, Mr Douglas Hogg, Mr Christopher Gill: 2.
	So the Question was agreed to.
	Resolved, That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Food Standards Bill it is expedient to authorise the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund.
9	Northern Ireland Bill,—Ordered, That, in respect of the Northern Ireland Bill, notices of Amendments, new Clauses and new Schedules to be moved in Committee may be accepted by the Clerks at the Table before the Bill has been read a second time.—(Mr Mike Hall.)
10	Business of the House,—Ordered, That, at the sitting on Thursday 15th July,
	(1) any Message received from the Lords relating to the Northern Ireland Bill may be considered, though opposed, at any hour; and
	(2) the House shall not adjourn until the Speaker shall have reported the Royal Assent to any Act agreed upon by both Houses.—(Mr Mike Hall.)
11	Business of the House,—Ordered, That, at the sitting on Friday 16th July, proceedings on the Motion for the adjournment of the House in the name of the Prime Minister may continue for up to five hours and may be proceeded with, though opposed, after half-past Two o'clock, and in calculating that period of five hours, the time taken by any interruption of the proceedings under paragraph 4 of Standing Order No. 11 (Friday sittings) shall be disregarded.—(Mr Mike Hall.)
12	Public Petitions,—A Public Petition from Consumers for Health Choice, the Health Food Manufacturers' Association, the National Association of Health Stores and others against the proposal to give the Medicines Control Agency power to classify natural health products as medicines was presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.
13	Adjournment,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn—(Mr Mike Hall);
	And the Motion having been made after 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 twenty-nine minutes past Eleven o'clock, till to-morrow.
[Adjourned at 11.29 p.m.
*Betty Boothroyd* *Speaker*
Madam Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Two o'clock.
APPENDIX I
Papers delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on Friday 9th July 1999 (Non-sitting Friday, S.O. No. 12) pursuant to Standing Order No. 159 (Presentation of Statutory Instruments):
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
1	Consumer Credit,—Consumer Credit (Exempt Agreements) (Amendment) Order 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1956), dated 8th July 1999 [Mr Secretary Byers].
2	Income Tax,—(1) Retirement Benefits Schemes (Continuation of Rights of Members of Approved Schemes) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1963), and
	(2) Retirement Benefits Schemes (Restriction on Discretion to Approve) (Additional Voluntary Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1964),
	dated 9th July 1999 [Dawn Primarolo].
3	Road Traffic,—Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1959), dated 8th July 1999 [Mr Secretary Prescott].
4	Social Security,—(1) Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1935), dated 7th July 1999 [Mr Secretary Darling]; and
	(2) Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 4) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1966), and
	(3) Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1965),
	dated 9th July 1999 [Dawn Primarolo].
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 12th July 1999:
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
5	Road Traffic,—Draft Courses for Drink-Drive Offenders (Experimental Period) (Termination of Restrictions) Order 1999 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
6	Social Security,—Income Support (General) and Jobseeker's Allowance Amendment Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1921), dated 5th July 1999 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Darling].
Other Papers:
7	Data Protection,—Account of the Data Protection Registrar for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 705] [Clerk of the House].
8	Development of Tourism,—Accounts of the British Tourist Authority for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 704] [Clerk of the House].
9	Museums and Galleries,—Accounts of the Museums and Galleries Commission for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 703] [Clerk of the House].
10	Pensions,—Report of the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority for 1998-99 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Darling].
11	Police,—Report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for 1998-99 [by Command] [Mr Secretary Straw].
12	Public Petitions,—Observations by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on the Petition [18th January] from Residents of the Parish of Wing in Buckinghamshire relating to a proposed Wing by-pass [by Standing Order]; to be printed [Clerk of the House].
APPENDIX II
Reports from Select Committees
1	Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs,—Third Special Report from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee [Government Response to the Ninth Report from the Committee, on the Integrated Transport White Paper]; to be printed [No. 708] [Mr Andrew F. Bennett].
2	Health,—Fifth Report from the Health Committee [The Regulation of Private and other Independent Healthcare], together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 281]; and
	(2) Memoranda laid before the Committee [The Regulation of Private and other Independent Healthcare]
	[Mr David Hinchliffe].



© Parliamentary copyright 1999	Revised 13 July 1999