| No. 85 |
THURSDAY 20TH MARCH 1997 |
2623 |
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ORDER PAPER |
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* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer
Questions marked thus [R] indicate that a relevant registered interest has been declared
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
Questions to the Prime Minister will start at 3.15 p.m.
| *1 |
Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action he is taking to improve the accessibility of polling stations to people with disabilities. |
| 19782 |
| *2 |
Dr Robert Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the extent of drug taking in prisons. |
| 19783 |
| *3 |
Margaret Hodge (Barking): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on police strength in the Metropolitan Police in (a) 1996 and (b) 1992. |
| 19784 |
| *4 |
Mr Harry Greenway (Ealing North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans his Department has to take action to discourage children from taking part in criminal activities; and if he will make a statement. |
| 19785 |
| *5 |
Mr Ken Livingstone (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received concerning his proposals to restrict the right to jury trial. |
| 19786 |
| *6 |
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made in attracting new recruits for the position of special constable. |
| 19787 |
| *7 |
Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the impact of CCTV in Newcastle as operated by Northumbria Police. |
| 19788 |
| *8 |
Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what new initiatives he plans to introduce to combat vandalism against property. |
| 19789 |
| *9 |
Lady Olga Maitland (Sutton and Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Minister for Prisons most recently visited a prison, and what was the purpose of the visit. |
| 19790 |
| *10 |
Mr Robert G. Hughes (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received concerning delays in the criminal justice system; and if he will make a statement. |
| 19791 |
| *11 |
Bridget Prentice (Lewisham East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the number of crimes committed by young people. |
| 19792 |
| *12 |
Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the current annual cost of keeping a young person in (a) secure accommodation and (b) youth custody. |
| 19793 |
| *13 |
Mr David Rendel (Newbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of motorists who are escaping prosecution for speeding because the police do not have the resources to maintain the existing speed cameras; and what measures he plans to take to remedy this situation. |
| 19794 |
| *14 |
Mr Simon Hughes (Southwark and Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government's target of (a) 5000 extra police officers nationwide and (b) 1000 extra police officers in London will be reached. |
| 19795 |
| *15 |
Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what wording he plans to include in the draft code of practice consequent upon the passing of the Police Bill [Lords] that will ensure confidential protection of pastoral discussions between ministers of religion and members of their flock. |
| 19796 |
| *16 |
Mr Walter Sweeney (Vale of Glamorgan): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of extra police officers to be appointed in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) the South Wales Police Authority in 1997-98. |
| 19797 |
| *17 |
Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the percentage rise in reported crime since 1979. |
| 19798 |
| *18 |
Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are taken to ensure that prison officers do not bring drugs into prisons; and if he will make a statement. |
| 19799 |
| *19 |
Mr Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the present education budget for the Prison Service in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. |
| 19800 |
| *20 |
Mr Graham Riddick (Colne Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement about the size of the prison population. |
| 19801 |
| *21 |
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what new measures he is supporting to combat international terrorism. |
| 19802 |
| *22 |
Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Port Glasgow): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions have taken place with the Scottish Prison Service anent the detention of persons awaiting deportation. |
| 19803 |
| *23 |
Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is his Department's latest estimate of overcrowding in prisons in England and Wales. |
| 19804 |
| *24 |
Sir Fergus Montgomery (Altrincham and Sale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prisons the Minister for Prisons has visited; and what assessment she has made about the management of those prisons. |
| 19805 |
| *25 |
Mr John Whittingdale (South Colchester and Maldon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures his Department is taking in respect of young offenders; and if he will make a statement. |
| 19806 |
| *26 |
Mr David Evans (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimates he has made of the effect on immigration levels of the abolition of the primary purpose rule and the admission of immediate members of the same family already resident in the United Kingdom. |
| 19807 |
| *27 |
Mr Toby Jessel (Twickenham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has had with the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis concerning police manpower in South West London. |
| 19808 |
| *28 |
Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been waiting more than five years for a decision on their status; and what plans he has to recruit extra staff to deal with the backlog of cases. |
| 19809 |
| *29 |
Mr Bernard Jenkin (Colchester North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made in supplying extra accommodation in HM prisons. |
| 19810 |
| *30 |
Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken to monitor the adequacy of prison staffing levels. |
| 19811 |
Questions to the Prime Minister will start at 3.15 p.m.
| *Q1 |
Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20th March. |
| 19812 |
| *Q2 |
Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20th March. |
| 19813 |
| *Q3 |
Mr John Gunnell (Morley and Leeds South): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20th March. |
| 19814 |
| *Q4 |
Sir Michael Neubert (Romford): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20th March. |
| 19815 |
| *Q5 |
Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough and Horncastle): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on Basic Pension Plan proposals. |
| 19816 |
| *Q6 |
Mr Michael Brown (Brigg and Cleethorpes): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20th March. |
| 19817 |
| *Q7 |
Mr Tony Banks (Newham North West): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20th March. |
| 19818 |
| *Q8 |
Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20th March. |
| 19819 |
| *Q9 |
Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20th March. |
| 19820 |
| *Q10 |
Mr David Congdon (Croydon North East): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20th March. |
| 19821 |
AT TEN O'CLOCK
Notice of Motion
The Prime Minister
Business of the House: That, at this day's sitting, consideration of Lords Amendments to the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Bill and the consideration of any Lords Amendments or proposals relating to bills which may be received, may be proceeded with, though opposed, until any hour.
To be moved after the interruption of business at Ten o'clock and to be decided forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 14
ORDERS OF THE DAY AND NOTICES OF MOTIONS
Those marked thus * are Government Orders of the Day
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| 1 |
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (SCOTLAND) BILL [MONEY] (No. 2): Queen's Recommendation signified. |
|
Mr Michael Jack
That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in establishing and maintaining the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission.
The Speaker will put the Question necessary to dispose of proceedings on the above Motion not later than three-quarters of an hour after it has been made, pursuant to Standing Order No. 50A(1)(b).
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| *2 |
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (SCOTLAND) BILL: Consideration of Lords Amendments. |
| 3 |
COUNTRYSIDE |
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Mr Secretary Gummer
That the draft Hedgerows Regulations 1997, which were laid before this House on 3rd March, be approved.
The Speaker will put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the above Motion not later than one and a half hours after their commencement, pursuant to Standing Order No. 14B(1).
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| 4 |
TAX SIMPLIFICATION BILLS |
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Mr Tony Newton
(1) Standing Order (Tax simplification bills) below be made;
(2) Standing Order No. 61 (Committal of bills) be amended, in line 2, after 'Bill', by inserting 'or a tax simplification bill'; and
(3) Standing Order No. 64 (Committee of whole House on bill) be amended, in line 7, at the end, by adding 'or unless the committee is discharged in pursuance of paragraph (8) of Standing Order (Tax simplification bills)'.
(1) In this order 'a tax simplification bill' means a bill which has been presented, or brought in upon an order of the House, by a Minister of the Crown and which has been ordered to be proceeded with as such a bill.
(2) A motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown at the commencement of public business, that a specified bill be so proceeded with, and the question thereon shall be put forthwith.
(3) A tax simplification bill shall, upon the making of an order under paragraph (2) above, stand referred to a second reading committee unless the House otherwise orders.
(4) A motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown at the commencement of public business, that a tax simplification bill shall no longer stand referred to a second reading committee, and the question thereon shall be put forthwith.
(5) The provisions of paragraphs (3) to (6) of Standing Order No. 90 (Second reading committees) shall apply to any bill referred to a second reading committee under paragraph (3) above.
(6) A tax simplification bill shall, upon its being read a second time, stand committed to the Joint Committee on Tax Simplification Bills.
(7) A bill which has been reported from the said Joint Committee shall stand re-committed to a committee of the whole House unless the House otherwise orders.
(8) If a motion that the committee of the whole House be discharged from considering a tax simplification bill is made by a Minister of the Crown immediately after the order of the day has been read for the House to resolve itself into a committee on the bill, the motion shall not require notice and the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed; and if such question is agreed to the bill shall be ordered to be read the third time.
The Second Report from the Select Committee on Procedure of Session 1996-97, on Legislative Procedure for Tax Simplification Bills (HC 126), is relevant.
The Speaker will put forthwith any Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the above Motion in the name of Mr Tony Newton, pursuant to Order [19th March].
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| 5 |
ALL-PARTY AND PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS |
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Mr Tony Newton
That this House approves the proposed written undertaking set out in the Annex to the First Report from the Administration Committee of Session 1995-96, on All-Party and Parliamentary Groups (HC 494), with the substitution for paragraph (i) of the following paragraph:
'(i) the group's membership is open to all Members of the House, and its aim and constitution are parliamentary in character; with the exception of those groups receiving funding from Her Majesty's Government, all groups cease to exist two calendar months after the first meeting of the new Parliament after a General Election unless re-registered within that period.'.
The Speaker will put forthwith any Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the above Motion in the name of Mr Tony Newton, pursuant to Order [19th March].
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| 6 |
STANDING ORDERS (REVISION) |
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Mr Tony Newton
That the repeals of, and Amendments to, the Standing Orders of this House relating to Public Business, and the new Standing Order, recommended by the Select Committee on Procedure in its First Report (HC 95), as set out in Appendices I (Recommendations: Revision) and III (Proposed re-ordering of select committee Standing Orders) thereto, be made, with effect from the first day of the new Parliament, with the following additions namely--
(a) Standing Order No. 94F (Scottish Grand Committee (delegated legislation)), line 16, leave out 'member of the government' and insert 'Minister of the Crown'; line 20 and line 37, leave out 'notwithstanding the expiration of the time for opposed business' and insert 'at any hour, though opposed'; and
(b) Standing Order No. 126 (Select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration), line 5, leave out 'Commissioner for Administration' and insert 'Ombudsman';
and subject to the following modifications to the recommendations set out in Appendix I, namely--
(1) recommendation 23, leave out lines 5 and 6 and insert 'No. 98G (Welsh Grand Committee (sittings)) and No. 99H (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings))".';
(2) recommendation 24(a), line 8, after 'business)),', insert 'Standing Order No. 99A (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (composition and business)),'; and
(3) recommendation 27, line 5, after 'Crown";', insert 'line 16 and'.
As an Amendment to Mr Tony Newton's proposed Motion (Standing Orders (Revision)) |
|
Sir Peter Emery
Mr David Winnick
Sir John Cope
Mr Peter L. Pike
Sir John Hannam
Rachel Squire
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| |
Mr Robert Atkins |
Mr Paul Tyler |
Mr David Martin |
| Line 4, after 'Revision', insert 'II (Recommendations: Nomenclature of Standing Committees)'.
The Speaker will put forthwith any Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the above Motion in the name of Mr Tony Newton, pursuant to Order [19th March].
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| 7 |
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE |
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Mr Secretary Dorrell
That the Special Grant Report (No. 27) (Community Care Special Grants for 1997-98) (HC 360), which was laid before this House on 5th March, be approved.
To be decided forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 101(6).
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| 8 |
DEREGULATION |
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Mr Secretary Gummer
That the draft Deregulation (Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1907) Order 1997, which was laid before this House on 3rd March, be approved.
The Deregulation Committee has reported on the proposal for this Order in its Ninth Report of Session 1996-97 (HC 298), and on the draft Order in its Twelfth Report of Session 1996-97 (HC 387).
To be decided forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 14A(1)(a).
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| 9 |
DEREGULATION |
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Mr Secretary Howard
That the draft Deregulation (Casinos and Bingo Clubs: Debit Cards) Order 1997, which was laid before this House on 3rd March, be approved.
The Deregulation Committee has reported on the proposal for this Order in its Seventh Report of Session 1996-97 (HC 247), and on the draft Order in its Twelfth Report of Session 1996-97 (HC 387).
To be decided forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 14A(1)(a).
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| 10 |
DEREGULATION |
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Mr Secretary Howard
That the draft Deregulation (Football Pools) Order 1997, which was laid before this House on 17th March, be approved.
The Deregulation Committee has reported on the proposal for this Order in its Eighth Report of Session 1996-97 (HC 274) and in its Twelfth Report of Session 1996-97 (HC 387), and on the draft Order in its Thirteenth Report of Session 1996-97 (HC 439).
To be decided forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 14A(1)(a).
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| 11 |
DEREGULATION |
|
Mr Secretary Howard
That the draft Deregulation (Betting and Bingo Advertising etc.) Order, which was laid before this House on 11th March, be approved.
The Deregulation Committee has reported on the proposal for this Order in its Tenth Report of Session 1996-97 (HC 228) and on the draft Order in its Thirteenth Report of Session 1996-97 (HC 439).
To be decided forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 14A(1)(a).
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| 12 |
DEREGULATION |
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Mr Secretary Lang
That the draft Deregulation (Non-Fossil Fuel) Order 1997, which was laid before this House on 17th March, be approved.
The Deregulation Committee has reported on the proposal for this Order in its Eighth Report of Session 1996-97 (HC 274) and in its Twelfth Report of Session 1996-97 (HC 387), and on the draft Order in its Thirteenth Report of Session 1996-97 (HC 439).
To be decided forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 14A(1)(a).
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| 13 |
STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND COHESION POLICY |
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The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Heseltine
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Howard
Mr Secretary Rifkind
Mr Secretary Lang
That this House takes note of European Community Documents Nos. 11382/96 on the structural funds, and 12614/96 on cohesion policy; welcomes the Government's continued efforts to simplify and improve the effectiveness of the funds within the United Kingdom and throughout the European Union; and supports the Government's view that the reform of the funds for the period beyond 1999 needs to ensure that the funds are fair, transparent and efficient, and needs to enable the likely enlargement of the European Union in an affordable and durable manner.
To be decided forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 102(9).
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| On the Motion for the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 Mr William O'Brien proposes to raise the subject of the Child Support Agency.
The Speaker will not adjourn the House until any messages from the Lords have been received, pursuant to Order [19th March].
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| COMMITTEES |
| SELECT COMMITTEES |
| 1 |
Health |
10.00 a.m. |
Room 8 (private) |
| 2 |
Parliamentary Commissioner for
Administration |
10.00 a.m. |
Room 19 (private) |
| 3 |
Science and Technology |
11.15 a.m. |
Room 15 (private) |
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]
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