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House of Commons
Wednesday 25 July 1990
The House met at half-past Two o'clock
PRAYERS
[ Mr. Speaker-- in the Chair ]
PRIVATE BUSINESS
Great Yarmouth Port Authority Bill
[Lords] As amended, considered.
Queen's consent, on behalf of the Crown, having been signified-- Ordered,
That Standing Order No. 205 (Notice of Third Reading) be suspended and that the Bill be now read the third time.-- [The Chairman of Ways and Means.]
Read the Third time, and passed, with amendments.
Redbridge London Borough Council Bill
(By Order)
Order for consideration of Lords amendment read.
To be considered on Monday 15 October at Seven o'clock.
Penzance South Pier Extension Bill
(By Order)
British Railways Bill
(By Order)
Lords amendments agreed to.
British Railways (No. 2) Bill
(By Order)
Order for consideration, as amended, read.
To be considered on Thursday 18 October.
Birmingham City Council (No. 2) Bill
(By Order) Order read for resuming adjourned debate on Question proposed [26 February],
That the Bill be now considered.
Debate further adjourned till Thursday 18 October.
London Docklands Railway Bill
(By Order)
Order for consideration, as amended, read.
To be considered on Thursday 18 October.
Mr. Speaker : As all the Bills set down for Second Reading have blocking motions, with the leave of the House I shall put them together.
Heathrow Express Railway Bill
[Lords]
(By Order)
Cattewater Reclamation Bill
(By Order)
Vale of Glamorgan (Barry Harbour) Bill
[Lords] (By Order)
Orders for Second Reading read.
To be read a Second time on Thursday 18 October.
London Regional Transport (Penalty Fares) Bill
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(By Order)
Order read for resuming adjourned debate on Question proposed [10 May],
That the Bill be now read a Second time.
Debate further adjourned till Thursday 18 October.
Southampton Rapid Transit Bill
[Lords]
(By Order)
Order for Second Reading read.
To be read a Second time on Thursday 18 October.
Exmouth Docks Bill
(By Order)
Order read for resuming adjourned debate on Question proposed [29 March],
That the Bill be now read a Second time.
Debate further adjourned till Thursday 18 October.
Killingholme Generating Stations (Ancillary
Powers) Bill
[Lords] (By Order)
Order for Second Reading read.
To be read a Second time on Thursday 18 October.
Heathrow Express Railway Bill
[Lords]
Motion made,
That the Promoters of the Heathrow Express Railway Bill [Lords] shall have leave to suspend proceedings thereon in order to proceed with the Bill, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament, provided that the Agents for the Bill give notice to the Clerks in the Private Bill Office of their intention to suspend further proceedings not later than the day before the close of the present Session and that all Fees due on the Bill up to that date be paid ; That if the Bill is brought from the Lords in the next Session, the Agents for the Bill shall deposit in the Private Bill Office a declaration signed by them stating that the Bill is the same, in every respect, as the Bill which was brought from the Lords in the present Session :
That as soon as a certificate by one of the Clerks in the Private Bill Office, that such a declaration has been so deposited, has been laid upon the Table of the House, the Bill shall be deemed to have been read the first and shall be ordered to be read a second time. That the Petitions against the Bill presented in the present Session which stand referred to the Committee on the Bill shall stand referred to the Committee on the Bill in the next Session ; That no Petitioners shall be heard before the Committee on the Bill, unless their Petition has been presented with the time limited within the present Session or deposited pursuant to paragraph (b) of Standing Order 126 relating to Private Business ;
That, in relation to the Bill, Standing Order 127 relating to Private Business shall have effect as if the words under Standing Order 126 (Reference to committee of petitions against Bill)' were omitted ;
That no further Fees shall be charged in respect of any proceedings on the Bill in respect of which Fees have already been incurred during the present Session ;
That these Orders be Standing Orders of the House-- [The Chairman of Ways and Means.]
Hon. Members : Object.
To be considered on Wednesday 17 October at Seven o'clock.
Killingholme Generating Stations(Ancillary Powers) Bill
[Lords]
Motion made,
That the Promoters of the Killingholme Generating Stations (Ancillary Powers) Bill [Lords] shall have leave to suspend proceedings thereon in order to proceed with the Bill, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament, provided that the Agents for the Bill give notice to the Clerks in the
Column 443
Private Bill Office of their intention to suspend further proceedings not later than the day before the close of the present Session and that all Fees due on the Bill up to that date be paid ; That if the Bill is brought from the Lords in the next Session, the Agents for the Bill shall deposit in the Private Bill Office a declaration signed by them stating that the Bill is the same, in every respect, as the Bill which was brought from the Lords in the present Session ;That as soon as a certificate by one of the Clerks in the Private Bill Office, that such a declaration has been so deposited, has been laid upon the Table of the House, the Bill shall be deemed to have been read the first and shall be ordered to be read a second time ; That the Petitions against the Bill presented in the present Session which stand referred to the Committee on the Bill shall stand referred to the Committee on the Bill in the next Session ; That no Petitioners shall be heard before the Committee on the Bill, unless their Petition has been presented within the time limited within the present Session or deposited pursuant to paragraph (b) of Standing Order 126 relating to Private Business ;
That, in relation to the Bill, Standing Order 127 relating to Private Business shall have effect as if the words under Standing Order 126 (Reference to committee of petitions against Bill)' were omitted ;
That no further Fees shall be charged in respect of any proceedings on the Bill in respect of which Fees have already been incurred during the present Session ;
That these Orders be Standing Orders of the House.-- [The Chairman of Ways and Means.]
To be considered on Thursday 18 October.
King's Cross Railways Bill
Motion made,
That the Promoters of the King's Cross Railways Bill shall have leave to suspend proceedings thereon in order to proceed with the Bill, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament, provided that the Agents for the Bill give notice to the Clerks in the Private Bill Office not later than the day before the close of the present Session of their intention to suspend further proceedings and that all Fees due on the Bill up to that date be paid ;
That on the fifth day on which the House sits in the next Session the Bill shall be presented to the House ;
That there shall be deposited with the Bill a declaration signed by the Agents for the Bill, stating that the Bill is the same, in every respect, as the Bill at the last stage of its proceedings in this House in the present Session ;
That the Bill shall be laid upon the Table of the House by one of the Clerks in the Private Bill Office on the next meeting of the House after the day on which the Bill has been presented and, when so laid, shall be read the first and second time and committed (and shall be recorded in the Journal of this House as having been so read and committed) ;
That all Petitions relating to the Bill presented in the present Session which stand referred to the Committee on the Bill, together with any minutes of evidence taken before the Committee on the Bill, shall stand referred to the Committee on the Bill in the next Session ;
That no Petitioners shall be heard before the Committee on the Bill, unless their Petition has been presented within the time limited within the present Session or deposited pursuant to paragraph (b) of Standing Order 126 relating to Private Business ;
That in relation to the Bill, Standing Order 127 relating to Private Business shall have effect as if the words under Standing Order 126 (Reference to committee of petitions against Bill)' were omitted ;
That no further Fees shall be charged in respect of any proceedings on the Bill in respect of which Fees have already been incurred during the present Session ;
That these Orders be Standing Orders of the House-- [The Chairman of Ways and Means.]
Hon. Members : Object.
To be considered on Thursday 18 October.
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Cardiff Bay Barrage Bill
[Lords]
Motion made,
That the Promoters of the Cardiff Bay Barrage Bill [ Lords ] shall have leave to suspend proceedings thereon in order to proceed with the Bill, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament, provided that the Agents for the Bill give notice to the Clerks in the Private Bill Office not later than the day before the close of the present Session of their intention to suspend further proceedings and that all Fees due on the Bill up to that date be paid ; That, if the Bill is brought from the Lords in the next Session, the Agent for the Bill shall deposit in the Private Bill Office a declaration signed by him, stating that the Bill is the same, in every respect, as the Bill which was brought from the Lords in the present Session ;
That, as soon as a certificate by one of the Clerks in the Private Bill Office, that such a declaration has been so deposited, has been laid upon the Table of the House, the Bill shall be read the first and second time and committed (and shall be recorded in the Journal of this House as having been so read and committed) ;
That all Petitions relating to the Bill presented in the present Session which stand referred to the Committee on the Bill, together with any minutes of evidence taken before the Committee on the Bill, shall stand referred to the Committee on the Bill in the next Session ;
That no Petitioners shall be heard before the Committee on the Bill, unless their Petition has been presented within the time limited within the present Session or deposited pursuant to paragraph (b) of Standing Order 126 relating to Private Business ;
That, in relation to the Bill, Standing Order 127 relating to Private Business shall have effect as if the words under Standing Order 126 (Reference to committee of petitions against Bill)' were omitted ;
That no further Fees shall be charged in respect of any proceedings on the Bill in respect of which Fees have already been incurred during the present Session ;
That these Orders be Standing Orders of the House-- [The Chairman of Ways and Means.]
Hon. Members : Object.
To be considered on Thursday 18 October.
Midland Metro Bill
Motion made,
That the Promoters of the Midland Metro Bill shall have leave to suspend proceedings thereon in order to proceed with the Bill, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament, provided that the Agents for the Bill give notice to the Clerks in the Private Bill Office not later than the day before the close of the present Session of their intention to suspend further proceedings and that all Fees due on the Bill up to that date be paid ;
That on the fifth day on which the House sits in the next Session the Bill shall be presented to the House ;
That there shall be deposited with the Bill a declaration signed by the Agents for the Bill, stating that the Bill is the same, in every respect, as the Bill at the last stage of its proceedings in this House in the present Session ;
That the Bill shall be laid upon the Table of the House by one of the Clerks in the Private Bill Office on the next meeting of the House after the day on which the Bill has been presented and, when so laid, shall be read the first and second time and committed (and shall be recorded in the Journal of this House as having been so read and committed) ;
That all Petitions relating to the Bill presented in the present Session which stand referred to the Committee on the Bill, together with any minutes of evidence taken before the Committee on the Bill, shall stand referred to the Committee on the Bill in the next Session ;
That no Petitioners shall be heard before the Committee on the Bill, unless their Petition has been presented within the time limited within the present Session or deposited pursuant to paragraph (b) of Standing Order 126 relating to Private Business ;
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That in relation to the Bill, Standing Order 127 relating to Private Business shall have effect as if the words under Standing Order 126 (Reference to committee of petitions against Bill)' were omitted ;That no further Fees shall be charged in respect of any proceedings on the Bill in respect of which Fees have already been incurred during the present Session ;
That these Orders be Standing Orders of the House.-- [The Chairman of Ways and Means.]
Hon. Members : Object.
To be considered on Thursday 18 October.
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Oral Answers to Questions
ENVIRONMENT
Local Authorities (Expenditure)
1. Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made any assessment of spending needs of local authorities for the coming financial year 1991-92 ; and if he will make a statement.
The Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Chris Patten) : I refer the hon. Member to the statement that I made to the House on 19 July.
Mr. Smith : The Secretary of State will probably recall that on 25 April he said that he would reconsider the standard spending assessment calculations for next year in the light of local authority representations. He will also probably recall that his Minister of State said on 12 July that he would not reconsider the standard spending assessment system. Which of the two right hon. and hon. Members is right?
Mr. Patten : We have always made it entirely clear that we are prepared to consider fresh evidence on the methodology that underlies the new grant distribution formula. That has been, and remains, our position. We shall consider fresh evidence and make our proposals in due course.
Mr. Ward : When my right hon. Friend comes to consider spending needs for the coming year, will he ensure that councils that have not really bothered to try to collect the community charge do not receive any special recompense? Will he take this opportunity to congratulate Poole borough council, which has collected 97 per cent. of the community charge-- the highest in the country?
Mr. Patten : The collection figures of the more competent local authorities are pretty good. I congratulate the elected members and officers in my hon. Friend's local authority on the record that they have set. Overall, the figures for collection of the community charge are about the same as those for domestic rates in their last year.
Mr. Pike : Does not the Secretary of State now agree that there is overwhelming evidence that many of the SSAs are wrong ; and will he give an assurance that action will be taken to help county councils such as Lancashire, so that it receives a fair allocation of Government resources with which to meet the needs for essential services of the community that elected that council?
Mr. Patten : I do not accept what the hon. Gentleman said about SSAs, but I believe that several local authorities, including Lancashire county council, have not been providing value for money.
Environmentally Friendly Goods
2. Mr. Carrington : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the Government are taking to encourage uniform standards in the labelling of environmentally friendly goods.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory) : A national
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advisory group has been appointed to help develop a workable scheme for awarding environmental labels to products so as to inform consumer choice. We hope that that will be part of a European Communitywide scheme which will facilitate trade.Mr. Carrington : I am grateful for that answer. Most people, given a choice, would want to purchase environmentally friendly goods. Will my hon. Friend ensure that goods are clearly labelled in future so that consumers can readily identify which of them are environmentally friendly?
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Yes, we are aware that there are several less than satisfactory labelling schemes. The Department of Trade and Industry is looking into whether they should be banned under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. One of the advantages of having our own authoritative scheme is that it will clear the market of the less than satisfactory alternatives.
Mr. Simon Hughes : Will the Minister discuss with Ministers in the Department of Energy environmental labelling of power stations? Will he consider putting the same information in very big writing on power stations as he would like on other goods--that is, the environmental disadvantages and the cost of nuclear power--so that everyone can see what the real choices in energy consumption are and, in the light of today's Select Committee report, what a waste of money nuclear power is?
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : All methods of generating electricity show a balance of environmental advantages and disadvantages. As the hon. Gentleman knows, nuclear power produces no gaseous emissions and is therefore benign from the point of view of global warming. It may also have disadvantages, but the information is freely available and nuclear power does not require a separate labelling system.
Mr. Squire : Given that few products are wholly benign, and as my hon. Friend is looking at a cradle-to-grave concept, is he looking into a series of gradations in labelling so that consumers can have an idea of comparative benefit, rather than a system of absolute benefits or absolute disadvantages?
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : It is open to the advisory committee to come up with a number of alternatives such as my hon. Friend suggests, but I believe that simplicity is a virtue. We want to guide the consumer with a scheme that is readily understood, and that might work against making labels too complex.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : Which soap powder is used in the Minister's household, and why is it environmentally friendly?
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : No doubt the advisory committee will be labelling soap powders, but which soap powders are used in the House of Commons is not my responsibility.
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