Votes and Proceedings

House of Commons

Session 1998-99
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House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Tuesday 20th July 1999

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

PRAYERS.

1 Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (Amendment of Rules) Bill,—The House proceeded to consider the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (Amendment of Rules) Bill, as amended in the Committee.

    Bill to be read the third time.

2 City of London (Ward Elections) Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for further consideration of the City of London (Ward Elections) Bill, as amended in the Committee;

    Ordered, That the Bill be further considered on Tuesday 27th July.

3 Standing Orders,—The Chairman of Ways and Means reported from the Standing Orders Committee the following Resolution:

    That a dispensation from the provisions of Standing Order 171A ought to be granted in the case of the late Petition against the London Local Authorities Bill [Lords].

    The Resolution was agreed to.

4 Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,—Mr Bill O'Brien reported from the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the draft Films (Modification of the Definition of 'British Film') Order 1999.

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

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

    The Lords have agreed to the Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Bill, without Amendment.

    Genetically Modified Crops Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill to regulate the use of certain genetically modified organisms for agricultural purposes; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.

6 Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries (Amendment),—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the Government to consult interested parties on whether to designate the coastal waters off Berwickshire as Scottish internal waters and to report to Parliament; and for connected purposes: And that Mr Archy Kirkwood, Mr Michael Moore, Mrs Ray Michie, Mr Donald Gorrie and Sir Robert Smith do prepare and bring it in.

7 Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries (Amendment) Bill,—Mr Archy Kirkwood accordingly presented a Bill to require the Government to consult interested parties on whether to designate the coastal waters off Berwickshire as Scottish internal waters and to report to Parliament; 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 145].

8 Opposition Day [19th 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.

    Health Care Provision in the United Kingdom,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes the failure of the Government to deliver improvements in the provision of health care in the United Kingdom, resulting in increased waiting times for patients, plummeting morale in the medical and nursing professions, distortion of clinical priorities and the increasingly widespread rationing of drugs and treatments; and believes that repeated announcements, soundbites and photo opportunities are no substitute for a coherent and effective health policy—(Dr Liam Fox);

    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 'welcomes the action the Government has taken to turn around the National Health Service by finding £21 billion extra funds for the coming three years, starting building work on 13 new hospitals, modernising every Accident and Emergency Department that needs it, abolishing the unfair and divisive system of fundholding and replacing it with Primary Care Groups putting doctors and nurses in the driving seat, cutting waiting lists, ending 18 month waiting in the NHS, creating the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and National Service Frameworks to promote quality treatment, delivering the biggest real terms pay rise for nurses for 10 years, publishing the most comprehensive strategy ever produced for improving the status, training, pay and job opportunities for Britain's half a million nurses, midwives and health visitors, with 3,800 nurses returning to the NHS so far this year and 2,200 additional doctors in the Government's first year of office; further welcomes the 450,000 more waiting list operations carried out last year plus the 142,000 extra emergency cases treated, and half a million more outpatient cases dealt with; and congratulates the staff on providing record results in what remains the fairest and most efficient healthcare system in the world', instead thereof.—(Mr Secretary Dobson.)

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

    The House divided.

    Tellers for the Ayes, Mrs Jacqui Lait, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 169.

    Tellers for the Noes, Mr David Clelland, Mr Mike Hall: 327.

    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 welcomes the action the Government has taken to turn around the National Health Service by finding £21 billion extra funds for the coming three years, starting building work on 13 new hospitals, modernising every Accident and Emergency Department that needs it, abolishing the unfair and divisive system of fundholding and replacing it with Primary Care Groups putting doctors and nurses in the driving seat, cutting waiting lists, ending 18 month waiting in the NHS, creating the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and National Service Frameworks to promote quality treatment, delivering the biggest real terms pay rise for nurses for 10 years, publishing the most comprehensive strategy ever produced for improving the status, training, pay and job opportunities for Britain's half a million nurses, midwives and health visitors, with 3,800 nurses returning to the NHS so far this year and 2,200 additional doctors in the Government's first year of office; further welcomes the 450,000 more waiting list operations carried out last year plus the 142,000 extra emergency cases treated, and half a million more outpatient cases dealt with; and congratulates the staff on providing record results in what remains the fairest and most efficient healthcare system in the world.

    The Government's Proposed Energy Tax,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes that the proposed energy tax represents a huge transfer of cash from manufacturing and energy intensive industries to the public and service sectors; threatens to drive large energy users out of the United Kingdom altogether and is a badly targeted and inefficient way of reducing COÜof6Ý2 emissions; believes this is another stealth tax on industry and notes the Government has increased the Landfill Tax without applying the revenue to offsetting cuts in National Insurance Contributions as was done by the last Conservative Government; and calls on the Government to consult on alternative ways of meeting Britain's international commitments to counter global warming and to withdraw this damaging threat to industry—(Mr David Heathcoat-Amory);

    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 'notes that there is now compelling evidence that climate change needs to be tackled, that there is therefore a need for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and that the United Kingdom has a legally-binding target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions set under the Kyoto Protocol; welcomes the recommendations of Lord Marshall on the case for a climate change levy; further welcomes the measures taken by the Government to help British business, including cutting corporation tax rates to their lowest ever level; welcomes the Government's decision to pre-announce the introduction of the climate change levy by two years to give time for further consultation on its design; and supports the Government's determination to work with industry and other parties to ensure that it meets its environmental objectives whilst safeguarding Britain's international competitiveness', instead thereof.—(Ms Patricia Hewitt.)

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

    Mr James Arbuthnot rose in his place and claimed to move, That the Question be now put.

    And the Question being put, That the Question be now put:—It was agreed to.

    And the Question being accordingly put;

    The House divided.

    Tellers for the Ayes, Mrs Jacqui Lait, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 132.

    Tellers for the Noes, Mr David Hanson, Jane Kennedy: 346.

    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);

    The House divided.

    Tellers for the Ayes, Mr David Hanson, Jane Kennedy: 311.

    Tellers for the Noes, Mrs Jacqui Lait, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 162.

    So the Question was agreed to.

    The Deputy Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to.

    Resolved, That this House notes that there is now compelling evidence that climate change needs to be tackled, that there is therefore a need for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and that the United Kingdom has a legally-binding target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions set under the Kyoto Protocol; welcomes the recommendations of Lord Marshall on the case for a climate change levy; further welcomes the measures taken by the Government to help British business,including cutting corporation tax rates to their lowest ever level; welcomes the Government's decision to pre-announce the introduction of the climate change levy by two years to give time for further consultation on its design; and supports the Government's determination to work with industry and other parties to ensure that it meets its environmental objectives whilst safeguarding Britain's international competitiveness.

9 Proposal to Extend the Working Time Directive to Excluded Sectors,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 119 (European Standing Committees), That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 13526/98, the unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum submitted by the Department of Trade and Industry on 18th May 1999 and the unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum submitted by the Department of Trade and Industry on 21st June 1999, all on the extension of the Working Time Directive to excluded sectors; supports the Government's view that the proposal agreed by Member States at the Social Affairs Council on 25th May will ensure that workers who were previously excluded will now enjoy the benefit of working time protection; and agrees that all workers should have the right to minimum standards in the workplace and that the extension of the working time directive to the excluded sectors supports the Government's aim of promoting family friendly employment—(Jim Dowd);

    The House divided.

    Tellers for the Ayes, Mr David Hanson, Jane Kennedy: 302.

    Tellers for the Noes, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr John M. Taylor: 156

    So the Question was agreed to.

    Resolved, That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 13526/98, the unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum submitted by the Department of Trade and Industry on 18th May 1999 and the unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum submitted by the Department of Trade and Industry on 21st June 1999, all on the extension of the Working Time Directive to excluded sectors; supports the Government's view that the proposal agreed by Member States at the Social Affairs Council on 25th May will ensure that workers who were previously excluded will now enjoy the benefit of working time protection; and agrees that all workers should have the right to minimum standards in the workplace and that the extension of the working time directive to the excluded sectors supports the Government's aim of promoting family friendly employment.

10 Deregulation,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 18 (Consideration of draft deregulation orders), That the draft Deregulation (Millennium Licensing) Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 5th July, be approved—(Jim Dowd);

    The House divided.

    Tellers for the Ayes, Mr David Hanson, Jane Kennedy: 324.

    Tellers for the Noes, Mr Douglas Hogg, Mr Edward Leigh: 7.

    So the Question was agreed to.

    Resolved, That the draft Deregulation (Millennium Licensing) Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 5th July, be approved.

11 Deregulation,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 18 (Consideration of draft deregulation orders), That the draft Deregulation (Casinos) Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 5th July, be approved—(Jim Dowd);

    The House divided.

    Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Keith Hill, Jane Kennedy: 304.

    Tellers for the Noes, Mr Douglas Hogg, Mr Eric Forth: 12.

    So the Question was agreed to.

    Resolved, That the draft Deregulation (Casinos) Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 5th July, be approved.

12 Public Petitions,—A Public Petition from the Crawley Observer and residents of Crawley in West Sussex against plans to downgrade Crawley Hospital was presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.

13 Public Petitions,—A Public Petition from customers of Oliver's Wholefood Store, Kew, and the Holland and Barratt Store, Sheen, 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.

14 Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Graham Allen.)

    And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till half-past Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 11.30 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 Value Added Tax,—Value Added Tax (Sport, Sports Competitions and Physical Education) Order 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1994), dated 14th July 1999 [by Act] [Dawn Primarolo].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

2 Education,—Education (Grants in respect of Voluntary Aided Schools) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 2020), dated 25th June 1999 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

3 Food,—(1) Animal Feedingstuffs from Belgium (Control) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 2026), and

    (2) Food (Animals and Animal Products from Belgium) (Emergency Control) (England and Wales) Order 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 2025),

dated 19th July 1999 [by Act] [Mr Nicholas Brown].

Other Papers:

4 British Library,—Accounts of the British Library Board for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 755] [Clerk of the House].

5 Competition Commission,—Report by the Competition Commission on the proposed merger of British Airways plc and CityFlyer Express Limited [by Command] [Cm. 4346] [Mr Secretary Byers].

6 Coroners,—West Midlands (Coroners' Districts) (Amendment) Order 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1990), dated 12th July 1999 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Straw].

7 Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster,—Revenue and Capital Accounts of the Duchy of Lancaster for 1998-99 [by Act] [Mrs Barbara Roche].

8 Education,—Account of the Funding Agency for Schools for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 752] [Clerk of the House].

9 Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland),—Accounts of Scottish Enterprise for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 753] [Clerk of the House].

10 Environment, Transport and the Regions Executive Agencies,—Report and Accounts of Ordnance Survey for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 568] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

11 Further and Higher Education,—Accounts of the—

    (1) Further Education Funding Council for England, and

    (2) Higher Education Funding Council for England

for 1998-99, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 757 and 756] [Clerk of the House].

12 Housing (Scotland),—Accounts of Scottish Homes for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 751] [Clerk of the House].

13 Law Commission,—Report by the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission on Trustees' Powers and Duties [by Act]; to be printed [No. 538] [Mr Keith Vaz].

14 National Audit,—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Further Education in Wales [by Act]; to be printed [No. 641] [Clerk of the House].

15 National Lottery,—Report of the National Lottery Commission for 1998-99 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 624] [Mr Secretary Smith].

16 Northern Ireland,—Report of the Sentence Review Commissioners for the period 30th July 1998 to 31st March 1999 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 659] [Secretary Marjorie Mowlam].

17 Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors,—Account of the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 673] [Mr Secretary Dobson].

18 Radiological Protection,—Accounts of the National Radiological Protection Board for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 754] [Clerk of the House].

19 Science and Technology,—Report and Summary Financial Statement of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council for 1998-99 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Byers].

20 Scottish Executive Agencies,—Report and Accounts of the Scottish Court Service for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 623] [Mr Secretary Reid].

21 Transport,—Report and Accounts of British Waterways for1998-99 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

22 Welsh Development Agency,—(1) Accounts of the Welsh Development Agency for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 758] [Clerk of the House]; and

    (2) Report and Summary Financial Statement of the Welsh Development Agency for 1998-99, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act] [Mr Secretary Michael].

Papers withdrawn:

23 Financial Services,—Draft Financial Services Act 1986 (Restriction of Exemptions) Order 1999 [laid 8th July].

APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

1 Fire Precautions (Workplace) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1877),—The Speaker has appointed Mr John McWilliam Chairman of the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the Regulations).

2 Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 48) on 1999-2000 Special Grant for developing new approaches to commissioning services for drug misusers (HC 513),—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr David Crausby, Lynne Jones and Miss Geraldine Smith from the Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the Special Grant Report); and nominated in substitution Mr Bill Etherington, Mr David Lepper and Laura Moffatt.

3 Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 50) on Children's Services (Quality Protects) Special Grants for 1998-99 and 1999-2000 (HC 617),—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Paul Goggins from the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the Special Grant Report); and nominated in substitution Mr Jeff Ennis.

4 Draft Northern Ireland Act Tribunal (Procedure) Rules 1999,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Eric Illsley and Mr Peter Mandelson from the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Rules); and nominated in substitution Dr Stephen Ladyman and Mrs Diana Organ.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1 Education and Employment and Social Security,—(1) Sixth Report from the Education and Employment Committee, and

    (2) Seventh Report from the Social Security Committee [The ONE Service Pilots], together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Employment Sub-Committee of the Education and Employment Committee, before the Social Security Committee and before the Employment Sub-Committee and the Social Security Committee meeting concurrently pursuant to paragraph (4)(e) of Standing Order No. 152 (Select committees related to government departments); to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committees relating to the Reports [No. 412] [Mr Derek Foster and Mr Archy Kirkwood].

2 Education and Employment,—(1) Seventh Report from the Education and Employment Committee [The Performance and Future Role of the Employment Service], 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. 197]; and

    (2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [DfEE Funding]; to be printed [No. 761-i]

[Mr Malcolm Wicks].

3 Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs,—(1) Fifteenth Report from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee [Departmental Annual Report 1999 and Expenditure Plans 1999-2002], together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environment Sub-Committee and the Transport Sub-Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 440]; and

    (2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environment Sub-Committee [Potential Risk of Fire Spread in Buildings via External Cladding Systems]; to be printed [No. 741-i]

[Mr Andrew F. Bennett].

4 Environmental Audit Committee,—(1) Seventh Report from the Environmental Audit Committee [Energy Efficiency], 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. 159]; and

    (2) Eighth Report from the Committee [The Budget 1999], 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. 326]

[Mr John Horam].

5 Foreign Affairs,—(1) Sixth Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee [South Caucasus and Central Asia], 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. 349];

    (2) Seventh Report from the Committee [Kosovo: Interim Report], 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. 188]; and

    (3) Memoranda laid before the Committee [South Caucasus and Central Asia; Kosovo]

[Mr Donald Anderson].

6 Home Affairs,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Home Affairs Committee [Drugs and Prisons]; to be printed [No. 363-vi] [Mr Chris Mullin].

7 International Development,—Fifth Report from the International Development Committee [The Department for International Development: Departmental Report 1999]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 567] [Mr Bowen Wells].

8 Procedure,—Sixth Report from the Procedure Committee [Procedure for Debate on the Government's Expenditure Plans], 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. 295] [Mr Nicholas Winterton].

9 Public Administration,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on Public Administration [Freedom of Information Draft Bill]; to be printed [Nos. 570-x and -xi] [Dr Tony Wright].

10 Social Security,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Social Security Committee [DSS Departmental Report 1999]; to be printed [No. 749-i] [Mr Archy Kirkwood].

11 Standards and Privileges,—Tenth Report from the Committee on Standards and Privileges [Unauthorised Receipt of a Draft Report of the Social Security Committee], together with Appendices and the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 13th July; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 747] [Mr Robert Sheldon].

12 Statutory Instruments,—Twenty-Sixth Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, together with Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be printed [No. 50-xxvi] [Mr David Tredinnick].

13 Treasury,—(1) Eighth Report from the Treasury Committee [the Monetary Policy Committee—Two Years On], 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. 505]; and

    (2) Sixth Special Report from the Committee [Government Response to the Sixth Report from the Committee, on Inland Revenue]; to be printed [No. 746]

[Mr Giles Radice].

CORRIGENDUM

Item 1 in Appendix II to the Votes and Proceedings for 19th July 1999 should have read as follows:

Draft Financial Services Act 1986 (Restriction of Exemptions) Order 1999,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Keith Darvill, Mr Neil Gerrard, Ms Oona King and Dr Doug Naysmith from the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order); and nominated in substitution Tom Cox, Mrs Ann Cryer, Mr Kelvin Hopkins and Mr David Stewart.



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