House of Commons		 Session 1996-97
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Order Papers

Order Paper Wednesday 30 October 1996

Here you can browse the House of Commons Order Paper (No. 6) for Wednesday 30 October 1996.

No. 6 WEDNESDAY 30TH OCTOBER 1996 93
ORDER PAPER

ORDERS OF THE DAY AND NOTICES OF MOTIONS

Business to be taken before Questions.

1 ADJOURNMENT
The Prime Minister.
    That this House do now adjourn.

Subjects proposed to be raised on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House.
9.30 a.m.-11.00 a.m. Sir Hector Monro The planning aspects of windfarms and telecommunication towers in Scotland.
11.00 a.m.-12.30 p.m. Mr Joe Ashton Administration of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
12.30 p.m.-1.00 p.m. Sir Colin Shepherd Veterinary education and training in Europe.
1.00 p.m.-1.30 p.m. Kate Hoey British Sports Academy.
1.30 p.m.-2.00 p.m. Mr Richard Spring Taxation of the racing industry.
    The Motion for the Adjournment of the House will lapse at Two o'clock and the sitting will be suspended until half-past Two o'clock, pursuant to Standing Order No. 10.

PRIVATE BUSINESS AT HALF-PAST TWO O'CLOCK

NOTICE OF PRESENTATION OF BILLS AT THE TIME OF PRIVATE BUSINESS

    Mr Secretary Forsyth
        City of Edinburgh Council Order Confirmation Bill:    Bill to confirm a Provisional Order under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936, relating to City of Edinburgh Council (to be presented under section 7 of the Act).
    Mr Secretary Forsyth
        Edinburgh Merchant Company Order Confirmation Bill:    Bill to confirm a Provisional Order under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936, relating to Edinburgh Merchant Company (to be presented under section 7 of the Act).

* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer
Questions marked thus [R] indicate that a relevant registered interest has been declared

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

*1 Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when was the last time that direct information was received about the condition of the British hostages in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.
683
*2 Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the Government's initiatives in respect of ending the partition of Cyprus.
684
*3 Mr Spencer Batiste (Elmet):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the progress of the Middle East peace process.
685
*4 Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Cromarty and Skye):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on progress within the Intergovernmental Conference.
686
*5 Mr Paul Flynn (Newport West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what contacts he has made recently with the Government of Sudan on the war there.
687
*6 Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement about the timetable for the Intergovernmental Conference.
688
*7 Mr D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what dates Government Ministers met Sir James Goldsmith in their official capacity to discuss matters relating to a referendum over the last 18 months.
689
*8 Mr David Tredinnick (Bosworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met the Governor of Hong Kong to discuss arrangements for transition; and if he will make a statement.
690
*9 Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with the United States of America.
691
*10 Mr Nick Ainger (Pembroke):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met (i) the Indonesian Ambassador and (ii) Indonesian Government representatives to discuss human rights.
693
*11 Bridget Prentice (Lewisham East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on United Kingdom-Indonesia relations.
694
*12 Mr Phil Gallie (Ayr):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he will take to ensure that proposals to have the veto removed from European Union decision-making are rejected; and if he will make a statement.
695
*13 Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will study the consequences for his Department of the effect of the century date change on computer systems; and if he will make a statement.
696
*14 Mr Peter Thurnham (Bolton North East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received about the measures announced in the Queen's Speech.
697
*15 Sir Robert Hicks (South East Cornwall):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action the United Kingdom and its EU partners are taking to persuade Israel to implement the Oslo Accords as they relate to Hebron.
698
*16 Mr Michael Brown (Brigg and Cleethorpes):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is the Government's policy with regard to the formal independence of Taiwan.
699
*17 Jane Kennedy (Liverpool, Broadgreen):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he next plans to meet the Foreign Minister of Israel to discuss developments in the peace process.
700
*18 Mr Harry Greenway (Ealing North):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the accession of Poland and other states to the EU and NATO.
701
*19 Mr James Pawsey (Rugby and Kenilworth):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last discussed Taiwan and Hong Kong with the Chinese Government.
704
*20 Mr Tim Devlin (Stockton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on progress in respect of tracing and releasing the British hostages in Kashmir.
705
*21 Mr Tim Renton (Mid Sussex):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he proposes to take in order to encourage the use, understanding and teaching of the English language abroad.
[R]706
*22 Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on relations with Taiwan.
707
*23 Diana Maddock (Christchurch):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ensure that next year's funding for the BBC World Service will be adequate to prevent reduction in the level or number of language services.
708
*24 Dr John Marek (Wrexham):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in which dependent territories where personnel issues are reserved for the decision of the Governor government employees of any category have to resign if they become pregnant.
709
*25 Mr Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Russian counterpart in respect of NATO plans for expansion into Central and Eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement.
710
*26 Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement about the Middle East peace process.
711
*27 Mr Jon Owen Jones (Cardiff Central):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many civil servants in his Department are currently working on issues relating to economic and monetary union.
712
*28 Dr Charles Goodson-Wickes (Wimbledon):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what consultations he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the enlargement of NATO.
713
*29 Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus East):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many countries have gained independence from the United Kingdom since 1966; and if he will make a statement.
714
*30 Mr Jeff Rooker (Birmingham, Perry Barr):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if Her Majesty's Government will initiate a new discussion in the Tripartite Commission for the Restitution of Monetary Gold and claimant countries regarding the residue of gold and its possible distribution to individuals.
715
*31 Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what is his assessment of the situation in Afghanistan.
716
*32 Mr David Shaw (Dover):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on his most recent discussions at the IGC about employment matters with his counterparts in the European Union.
717
*33 Mr Tony Banks (Newham North West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was the total cost to his Department arising from visits abroad by members of the Royal Family in 1995--96.
718
*34 Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the future financial arrangements for the World Service.
719
*35 Mr John Austin-Walker (Woolwich):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had recently with the government of Argentina; and if he will make a statement.
720
*36 Mr Ian Bruce (Dorset South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Spanish government in respect of failures to keep traffic flowing freely on the Gibraltar/Spanish border.
[R]721

AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS

Notice of Presentation of Bill

    Mrs Secretary Shephard
        Education:    Bill to amend the law relating to education in schools and further education in England and Wales; to make provision for the supervision of the awarding of external academic and vocational qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; and for connected purposes.

ORDERS OF THE DAY AND NOTICES OF MOTIONS

Those marked thus * are Government Orders of the Day.

2 BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
Mr Tony Newton
        That--
        (1) Standing Order No. 13 (Arrangement of public business) shall have effect for this Session with the following modifications, namely:
          In paragraph (4) the word 'eight' shall be substituted for the word 'ten' in line 43; in paragraph (5) the word 'fifth' shall be substituted for the word 'seventh' in line 45;
        (2) Standing Order No. 90 (Second reading committees) shall have effect for this Session with the following modification, namely:
          In paragraph (2) the word 'fifth' shall be substituted for the word 'seventh' in line 23; and
        (3) Private Members' Bills shall have precedence over Government business on 13th December, 17th, 24th and 31st January, 7th, 14th and 28th February and 18th April.
        As an Amendment to Mr Tony Newton's proposed Motion (Business of the House):
Mr Nigel Spearing
Mr Hugh Dykes
Mr Denzil Davies
Mr Peter Hardy
Mr Michael Carttiss
Mr Don Dixon
    Mr Harry Barnes; Mr Nick Ainger; Mr Michael J. Martin; Mr David Winnick; Dr Norman A. Godman; Mr Jim Cousins; Mr Neil Gerrard; Mr Harry Cohen; Mr Gerry Steinberg; Mr Alan Simpson; Mr John Maxton; Mr Allan Rogers; Mr Robin Corbett; Mr Kevin MacNamara; Mr Bill Etherington; Mr Jim Callaghan; Dr Jeremy Bray; Audrey Wise; Mr Roy Hughes; Mr Llew Smith; Sir Raymond Powell; Mr Terry Davis; Mr John Austin-Walker; Helen Jackson; Mr Richard Burden; Mr John Evans
        Line    13,    at end add--
        (4) Private Members' Notices of Motions shall have precedence over Government business until Seven o'clock on Monday 18th November, Monday 16th December, Monday 27th January and Monday 24th February, and ballots for these Notices shall be held after Questions on Thursdays 7th November, 5th December, 16th January and 13th February.
        (5) No Notice of Motion shall be handed in for any of the days on which Private Members' Notices have precedence under this Order in anticipation of the ballot for that day.
3 SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE
Mr Tony Newton
        That--
        (1) Standing Order No. 11A (House not to sit on certain Fridays) shall have effect for this Session with the following modification, namely:
            In paragraph (1) the word 'eight' shall be substituted for the word 'ten'; and
        (2) the House shall not sit on the following Fridays:8th and 22nd November, 21st February, 7th, 14th and 21st March and 4th and 11th April.
*4 QUEEN'S SPEECH (MOTION FOR AN ADDRESS): Adjourned Debate on Question [23rd October].
        Motion made, and Question proposed, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, as follows:
        Most Gracious Sovereign,
        We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament--(Sir Norman Fowler):
        As Amendments to the Address, at end add--
Mr David Trimble
Sir James Molyneaux
Mr John D. Taylor
The Reverend Martin Smyth
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Clifford Forsythe
(a)
    Mr Ken Maginnis; The Rev. Ian Paisley; Mr A. Cecil Walker; The Rev. William McCrea; Mr William Ross
        But humbly regret that the references to Northern Ireland, an integral part of this, Your Majesty's United Kingdom, continue to be placed in that section of Your Gracious Speech which is otherwise devoted to external affairs, to the scandal and offence of Your faithful Ulster people and the encouragement of the disturbers of Your Peace.
Mr Paddy Ashdown
Mr A. J. Beith
Mr Robert Maclennan
Mr James Wallace
Mr Alex Carlile
Mr Archy Kirkwood
(b)
        But humbly regret that the Gracious Speech fails to set out adequate proposals to create an excellent education system for all pupils, to reform Britain's discredited system of government or to make the necessary improvements to the NHS to restore it as a first class provider of care; and further regret that measures outlined in the Gracious Speech on crime are designed for political effect rather than practical effectiveness and will do little to strengthen the police and prevent crime.
Mr Tony Blair
Mr John Prescott
Mr Gordon Brown
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Alistair Darling
Mr Donald Dewar
(c)
        But note that since 1979 the Government has broken each one of its central promises: to reverse national economic decline, to cut unemployment which stood at one million when it took office, to raise investment in the United Kingdom's manufacturing industries, to cut tax, spending and debt and to build a cohesive society; regret the absence from the Gracious Speech of measures that will strengthen the supply side of the economy, expand the United Kingdom's long term capacity, ensure high levels of sustainable growth and heal social division; call for a new employment policy which moves people from welfare to work, a new education policy which equips people for the future, a new industry policy for investment that will increase small business and high technology investment in all regions of Britain; and note that these measures are the only sure way of ensuring opportunity for all and a durable recovery that will keep inflation and interest rates low, and bring long term prosperity for all.
Mrs Margaret Ewing
Mr Alex Salmond
Roseanna Cunningham
Mr Andrew Welsh
(d)
        But humbly regret that the Gracious Speech fails in every way to address the real needs of the people of Scotland and to nurture the development of the Scottish economy; regret that it did not include proposals to abolish the internal market in the NHS, improve housing conditions and house the homeless, restore social security entitlement to 16 and 17 year olds, and remove the immoral practice of means testing the elderly for their residential care, or to abolish the feudal land system and replace it with a democratic system of land holding; and further regret that the proposals to tighten gun control failed to recommend a complete ban on hand guns, and that the proposed Crime (Scotland) Bill fails to balance punishment with rehabilitative efforts to effect a long term reduction in crime rates.
        On the Motion for the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 Mr Paul Tyler proposes to raise the subject of organophosphate pesticides.
COMMITTEES
SELECT COMMITTEES
1 Foreign Affairs 10.00 a.m. Room 8 (private)
10.30 a.m. (public)
        Subject: BBC World Service.
        Witnesses: Mr John Birt, Director General, BBC, Mr Sam Younger, Managing Director, BBC World Service, Mr John Smith, Deputy Director of Finance, BBC.
2 Trade and Industry 10.15 a.m. Room 15 (private)
10.30 a.m. (public)
        Subject: Energy Regulation.
        Witnesses: British Gas plc; Amerada Hess Ltd (at 11.10 a.m.); United Gas Company Ltd (at 11.50 a.m.).
3 Agriculture 10.30 a.m. Room 20 (private)
10.45 a.m. (public)
        Subject: Environmentally Sensitive Areas and other schemes under the Agri-environment Regulation.
        Witnesses: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food officials.
4 Catering 10.30 a.m. Room 13 (private)
5 Welsh Affairs 11.00 a.m. Room 18 (private)
6 Environment 2.20 p.m. John Dower House,
Headquarters of the
Countryside
Commission,
Cheltenham (private)
2.30 p.m. (public)
        Subject: Countryside Commission.
        Witness: Countryside Commission.
7 Home Affairs 3.30 p.m. Room 21 (private)
4.45 p.m. (public)
        Subject: The Management of the Prison Service (Public and Private).
        Witnesses: Prison Governors' Association; Prison Officers' Association (at 5.30 p.m.).
8 Northern Ireland Affairs 3.45 p.m. Room 6 (private)
4.00 p.m. (public)
        Subject: Illicit Drug Use in Northern Ireland.
        Witnesses: Royal Ulster Constabulary, Northern Ireland Office.
9 Transport 3.45 p.m. Room 17 (private)
4.00 p.m. (public)
        Subject: National Air Traffic Services.
        Witness: National Air Traffic Services Ltd.
10 Education and Employment 4.00 p.m. Room 15 (private)
4.15 p.m. (public)
        Subject: The operation of the Nursery Vouchers Scheme.
        Witnesses: Pre-school Learning Alliance; British Association for Early Childhood Education (at 5.00 p.m.).
11 European Legislation 4.00 p.m. Room 19 (private)
12 Science and Technology 4.00 p.m. Room 18 (private)
13 Social Security 4.00 p.m. Room 8 (private)
4.15 p.m. (public)
        Subject: Child Benefit.
        Witnesses: DSS and Benefits Agency officials.
14 Trade and Industry 4.00 p.m. Room 20 (public)
        Subject: Department of Trade and Industry: Expenditure Plans 1996-97 to 1998-99.
        Witness: Mr Michael Scholar, Permanent Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry.
15 Public Accounts 4.15 p.m. Room 16 (public)
        Subject: Department for Education and Employment: Financial Control of Payments made under Training for Work and Youth Training Programmes.
        Witnesses: Mr Michael Bichard, Permanent Secretary, Mr John Hedges, Director of Operations, Department for Education and Employment.
16 Selection 4.15 p.m. Room 13 (private)
17 Accommodation and Works 4.30 p.m. Room 7 (private)

 
© Parliamentary copyright 1996
Prepared 30 October 1996