 House of Commons |
Session 1997-1998 |
| Commons Journal 254
Chronological Index
Page 92 1997-1998 Volume 254 [No. 36.] Monday 7th July 1997. The House met at half-past Two o'clock. PRAYERS.
Law Officers Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, an Act to enable functions of the Attorney General and of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland to be exercised by the Solicitor General; and for connected purposes; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.
And the Question being opposed, after a brief explanatory statement from the Member who made the Motion and from a Member who opposed it, the Deputy Speaker put the Question pursuant to Standing Order No. 23 (Motions for leave to bring in bills and nomination of select committees at commencement of public business):–It was agreed to. Ordered, That Mr Austin Mitchell, Mrs Jackie Ballard, Mrs Ann Cryer, Ms Barbara Follett, Mrs Teresa Gorman, Miss Anne McIntosh, Alice Mahon, Dr Jenny Tonge and Mrs Ann Winterton do prepare and bring in the Bill.
(a) an undertaking whose privatisation involved the imposition of economic regulation has been privatised by means of a flotation; and (b) the profits of the undertaking in the period after the flotation show that the company was benefiting on that date from a windfall from that flotation; And the Question being again proposed; The House resumed the adjourned Debate. And the Question being put; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr David Clelland, Mr Jon Owen Jones: 342. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Richard Ottaway, Mr Malcolm Moss: 196. So the Question was agreed to. The Speaker then, pursuant to paragraph (3) of Standing Order No. 51 (Ways and Means motions), put forthwith the Questions necessary to dispose of the further Motions, which were made by Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer. 2. Value added tax (fuel and power) Resolved, That— (1) In section 2(1A) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994, for “8 per cent.” there shall be substituted “5 per cent.”. Page 93 Monday 7th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top (2) This Resolution applies in relation to any supply made on or after 1st September 1997 and any acquisition or importation taking place on or after that date. And it is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968. 3. Spirits (rate of duty) Resolved, That provision may be made increasing the rate of duty set out in section 5 of the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979. 4. Beer (rate of duty) Resolved, That provision may be made increasing the rate of duty set out in section 36(1) of the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979. 5. Wine and made-wine (rates of duty) Resolved, That provision may be made increasing the rates of duty set out in the Table in Schedule 1 to the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979. 6. Cider (rates of duty) Resolved, That provision may be made increasing the rates of duty set out in section 62(1A) of the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979. 7. Hydrocarbon oil (rates of duties and rebates) The Question being put, That— (1) In relation to times before the coming into force of section 7(2) and (3) of the Finance Act 1997, section 6(1) of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 (“the 1979 Act”) shall have effect as follows— (a) for “£0.4168” there shall be substituted “£0.4510”; and (b) for “£0.3686” there shall be substituted “£0.4028”. (2) In relation to times after the coming into force of section 7(2) and (3) of the Finance Act 1997, section 6(1A) of the 1979 Act shall have effect as follows— (a) in paragraph (a), for “£0.4168” there shall be substituted “£0.4510”; (b) in paragraph (b), for “£0.3586” there shall be substituted “£0.3928”; and (c) in paragraph (c), for “£0.3686” there shall be substituted “£0.4028”. (3) In section 11(1) of the 1979 Act, for “£0.0194” and “£0.0250” there shall be substituted “£0.0200” and “£0.0258”, respectively. (4) In section 14(1) of the 1979 Act, for “£0.0194” there shall be substituted “£0.0200”. (5) This Resolution shall have effect as from 6 o'clock in the evening of 2nd July 1997. And it is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr David Clelland, Mr Jon Owen Jones: 335. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Richard Ottaway, Mr Malcolm Moss: 137. So the Question was agreed to. 8. Tobacco products (rates of duty) Resolved, That provision may be made increasing the rates of duty set out in the Table in Schedule 1 to the Tobacco Products Duty Act 1979. 9. Vehicle excise duty (increase in rates) The Question being put, That provision may be made increasing the rates of duty set out in Schedule 1 to the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Jon Owen Jones, Mr David Clelland: 332. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Paul Tyler, Mr Andrew Stunell: 192. So the Question was agreed to. Page 94 Monday 7th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top 10. Vehicle licensing (fees with licence applications) Resolved, That provision may be made enabling the Secretary of State to require payments to be made to him in connection with— (a) steps taken by him for facilitating the transmission of information to him electronically in connection with licence applications under the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994, and (b) the processing of such applications where information is so transmitted. 11. Withdrawal of relief on medical insurance premiums The Question being put, That— (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) below, relief under section 54 of the Finance Act 1989 shall not be given in respect of any payment where either— (a) the premium in respect of which the payment is made is a premium under a contract entered into on or after 2nd July 1997; or (b) the payment is received by the insurer on or after 6th April 1999. (2) Paragraph (1) above shall not affect the giving of relief in respect of a payment received by an insurer before 6th April 1999 where— (a) the premium in respect of which the payment is made is a premium under a contract entered into on or after 2nd July 1997 but before 1st August 1997; (b) the contract is one entered into in pursuance of a written proposal received by or on behalf of the insurer before 2nd July 1997; (c) the contract is not a contract entered into by way of the renewal of an earlier contract; and (d) if the payment is not itself a payment received before 1st August 1997, the insurer had before 1st August 1997 received an earlier payment in respect of a premium under the contract in question. (3) Paragraph (1) above shall not affect the giving of relief in respect of a payment received by an insurer before 6th April 1999 where— (a) the premium in respect of which the payment is made is a premium under a contract entered into on or after 2nd July 1997 but before 1st August 1997; (b) that contract is one entered into by way of the renewal of an earlier contract; (c) the period of insurance under the earlier contract ended before 2nd July 1997; and (d) if the payment is not itself a payment received before 1st August 1997, the insurer had before 1st August 1997 received an earlier payment in respect of a premium under the renewal contract. (4) For the purposes of the preceding provisions of this Resolution a contract shall be taken to have been entered into by way of the renewal of an earlier contract only if— (a) it was entered into by way of the renewal of a contract which was an eligible contract for the purposes of section 54 of the Finance Act 1989 when that earlier contract was entered into; (b) the insurer under the earlier contract and the insurer under the contract by which it has been renewed are the same; and (c) the period of insurance under the earlier contract ended immediately before the beginning of the period of insurance under the contract by which it has been renewed. (5) This Resolution has effect for the year 1997-98 and subsequent years of assessment. And it is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Jim Dowd, Mr Kevin Hughes: 377. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Richard Ottaway, Mr John Whitttingdale: 113. So the Question was agreed to. Page 95 Monday 7th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top 12. Corporation tax (rates for financial year 1997) Resolved, That— (a) the rate at which corporation tax is charged for the financial year 1997 shall be, and shall be deemed always to have been, 31 per cent. (and not 33 per cent. as provided by section 58 of the Finance Act 1997); and (b) the small companies' rate for that year shall be, and shall be deemed always to have been, 21 per cent. (and not 23 per cent. as provided by section 59(a) of that Act). 13. Surplus franked investment income Resolved, That provision may be made in relation to sections 242 to 244 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. 14. Tax credits (pension funds) The Question being put, That— (1) In section 231 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988— (a) in subsection (2) for “Subject to section 241(5)” there shall be substituted “Subject to sections 231A and 241(5)”; and (b) at the beginning of subsection (3) there shall be inserted “Subject to section 231A,”. (2) After section 231 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 there shall be inserted—
(2) In the case of any pension fund, for any year of assessment the aggregate amount of the tax credits in respect of which claims are made under section 231(3) must not exceed the aggregate amount of the tax credits in respect of the qualifying distributions comprised in the income of the pension fund and brought into charge to tax. (3) Accordingly, no payment shall be made under section 231(3) in respect of so much of the excess there mentioned as is referable to a tax credit in respect of a qualifying distribution if or to the extent that the qualifying distribution is income of a pension fund. (4) In this section— “income”, in relation to a pension fund, means income derived from investments or deposits held for the purposes of the pension fund; “pension fund” means any scheme, fund or other arrangements established and maintained (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) for the purpose of providing pensions, retirement annuities, allowances, lump sums, gratuities or other superannuation benefits (with or without subsidiary benefits); “scheme” includes any deed, agreement or series of agreements. (5) For convenience of identification only, the schemes, funds or other arrangements which are “pension funds” for the purposes of this section by virtue of the definition of that expression in subsection (4) above include, in particular, those whose income is, in whole or in part, exempt, or eligible for exemption, from tax under or by virtue of any of the following provisions— (a) section 512(2); (b) section 592(2); (c) section 608(2)(a); (d) section 613(4); (e) section 614(2), (3), (4) or (5); (f) section 620(6); (g) section 643(2). Page 96 Monday 7th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top (6) The preceding provisions of this section do not have effect in relation to— (a) claims made in respect of tax credits to which entitlement arises by virtue of section 232(3); or (b) claims made by virtue of arrangements having effect under section 788.” (3) This Resolution has effect in relation to qualifying distributions made on or after 2nd July 1997. And it is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Jim Dowd, Mr Kevin Hughes: 332. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Oliver Heald, Mr John Whittingdale: 199. So the Question was agreed to. 15. Insurance companies and friendly societies (tax credits) Resolved, That— (1) In paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 19AB to the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988— (a) the words “the aggregate of” shall cease to have effect; and (b) paragraph (b) shall cease to have effect. (2) For the purposes of section 121 of the Finance Act 1993, Schedule 19AB to the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 shall be deemed to have effect without the amendments made by paragraph (1) above. (3) Paragraph (1) above has effect in relation to distributions made on or after 2nd July 1997. And it is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968. 16. Insurance companies, friendly societies and Lloyd's underwriters Resolved, That provision may be made, in the case of insurance companies, friendly societies and Lloyd's underwriters, in relation to, or in connection with amending provisions relating to, distributions and tax credits. 17. Dealers in shares and other securities Resolved, That provision may be made for and in connection with amending sections 95 and 732 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. 18. Payments representing tax credits etc Resolved, That provision may be made— (a) about payments to which section 687 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 applies; (b) about arrangements under which a person receives a payment representing any of the value of a tax credit received by another; and (c) for and in connection with amending section 699A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. Page 97 Monday 7th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top 19. Unauthorised unit trusts Resolved, That— (1) Where a qualifying distribution— (a) is made on or after 2nd July 1997 but before 6th April 1999 by a company resident in the United Kingdom, and (b) falls to be regarded by virtue of subsection (2) of section 469 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 as income of the trustees of a unit trust scheme to which that section applies, and (c) is not a foreign income dividend and does not (apart from this Resolution) fall to be regarded by virtue of any provision of the Tax Acts as a foreign income dividend arising to the trustees, the trustees shall be treated for all purposes of the Tax Acts (but not this Resolution) as if the qualifying distribution were a foreign income dividend. (2) Paragraph (1) above shall not apply— (a) if the unit trust scheme is a common investment fund established under section 42 of the Administration of Justice Act 1982; or (b) if, apart from section 469(2) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, the whole of the qualifying distribution would fall to be regarded as income of section 505 bodies. (3) In this Resolution— “foreign income dividend” shall be construed in accordance with Chapter VA of Part VI of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988; “section 505 body” means— (a) a charity, as defined in section 506(1) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988; (b) a body mentioned in section 507 of that Act; or (c) an Association of a description specified in section 508 of that Act. And it is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968. 20. Relief for losses etc Resolved, That provision may be made limiting— (a) the period for which amounts may be carried back under section 393A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 or paragraph 3 of Schedule 8, paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 11 or paragraph 23 of Schedule 15 to the Finance Act 1996; and (b) the amount that may be allowed by way of group relief on a claim under Chapter IV of Part X of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. 21. Capital allowances Resolved, That provision may be made amending the Capital Allowances Act 1990 for the purpose of— (a) allowing first-year allowances to be made under Part II of that Act in respect of expenditure incurred by small and medium-sized companies and businesses on or after 2nd July 1997 and before 2nd July 1998; and (b) modifying the operation of that Act in cases where machinery or plant is made available for use directly or indirectly as a consequence of any such arrangements as fall, in accordance with normal accountancy practice, to be treated as a finance lease or as a loan. 22. Relief for film production and acquisition expenditure Resolved, That provision may be made increasing the amounts of film production and acquisition expenditure incurred before 2nd July 2000 that are relievable under section 42 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1992. 23. Stamp duty (conveyances and transfers on sale) The Question being put, That the following provisions shall have effect for the period beginning 8th July 1997 and ending 31 days after the earliest of the dates mentioned in section 50(2) of the Finance Act 1973— Page 98 Monday 7th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top (1) Section 55 of the Finance Act 1963 and section 4 of the Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 1963 shall each be amended in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (2) to (4) below. (2) Subject to the modification mentioned in paragraph (5) below, in subsection (1), for paragraphs (b) and (c) there shall be substituted— “(b) where paragraph (a) above does not apply and— (i) the amount or value of the consideration does not exceed £500, and (ii) the instrument is certified as described in section 34(4) of the Finance Act 1958 at £250,000, the rate of 50p for every £50 or part of £50 of the consideration; (c) where paragraph (a) above does not apply and— (i) the amount or value of the consideration exceeds £500 but does not exceed £250,000, and (ii) the instrument is certified as described in section 34(4) of the Finance Act 1958 at £250,000, the rate of £1 for every £100 or part of £100 of the consideration; (d) where paragraphs (a) to (c) above do not apply and— (i) the amount or value of the consideration does not exceed £500,000, and (ii) the instrument is certified as described in section 34(4) of the Finance Act 1958 at £500,000, the rate of £1.50p for every £100 or part of £100 of the consideration; and (e) in any other case the rate of £2 for every £100 or part of £100 of the consideration;”. (3) In subsection (1A) for “paragraph (c)” there shall be substituted “paragraph (e)”. (4) In subsection (2)— (a) after the words “shall have effect as if” there shall be inserted “(a)”, and (b) after the word “omitted” there shall be inserted— “and (b) in paragraph (d) for the words “paragraphs (a) to (c)” there were substituted the words “paragraphs (b) and (c)”.” (5) In section 4 of the Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 1963, for the words “section 34(4) of the Finance Act 1958” wherever they occur, there shall be substituted the words “section 7(4) of the Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 1958”. (6) This Resolution shall apply to instruments executed on or after 8th July 1997, except where the instrument in question is executed in pursuance of a contract made on or before 2nd July 1997. And it is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of section 50 of the Finance Act 1973; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Jim Dowd, Mr Graham Allen: 367. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Oliver Heald, Mr John Whittingdale: 147. So the Question was agreed to. 24. Statutory effect of resolutions Resolved, That provision may be made amending section 1(3) of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968.
(a) provision relating to income tax relief for interest payments; Page 99 Monday 7th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top (b) provision in relation to distributions received by charities and persons to whom section 507 or 508 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 applies; (c) provision relating to tax credits; (d) provision relating to the taxation of dividends and other distributions of companies; (e) provision for or in connection with varying the rate at which tax is charged under or by virtue of sections 249 and 421 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988; (f) provision for and in connection with the abolition of foreign income dividends; (g) provision for interest on gilt-edged securities to be paid without deduction of income tax; (h) provision for tax to be deducted on the payment of public revenue dividends mentioned in section 118G(3) or (7) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988; and (i) provision substituting “August” for “May” in section 246(2)(b) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.
Resolved, That for the purposes of any Act of the present Session relating to finance, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of amounts which, by virtue of that Act, are payable to charities and persons to whom section 507 or 508 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 applies in respect of distributions received by them. Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the foregoing Resolutions: And that The Chairman of Ways and Means, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Secretary Prescott, Mr Secretary Straw, Mr Secretary Blunkett, Secretary Margaret Beckett, Mr Secretary Dobson, Secretary Harriet Harman, Mr Alistair Darling, Mr Geoffrey Robinson, Dawn Primarolo and Mrs Helen Liddell do prepare and bring it in.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till six minutes to Twelve o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 11.54 p.m. APPENDIX Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Page 100 Monday 7th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top (2) St Mary's Music School (Aided Places) Amendment Regulations 1997 (S.I., 1997, No. 1640), dated 1st July 1997 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dewar]. Other Papers:
(2) Paper, entitled Excellence in Schools [by Command] [Cm. 3681] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
MEMORANDUM
[No. 37.] Tuesday 8th July 1997. The House met at half-past Two o'clock. PRAYERS.
Ordered, That the Bill be read the third time on Tuesday 15th July.
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Tuesday 15th July.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
Page 101 Tuesday 8th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top And the Question being opposed, after a brief explanatory statement from the Member who made the Motion and from a Member who opposed it, the Deputy Speaker put the Question pursuant to Standing Order No. 23 (Motions for leave to bring in bills and nomination of select committees at commencement of public business):–It was agreed to. Ordered, That Mr Julian Brazier, Sir Teddy Taylor, Mr Andrew Rowe, Mr Edward Leigh, Miss Ann Widdecombe, Mr Roger Gale, Mr Andrew Robathan, Mr Piers Merchant, Dr Julian Lewis, Mr Shaun Woodward, Mr Oliver Letwin and Mr Christopher Fraser do prepare and bring in the Bill.
A Clause (Duty of Secretary of State to have regard to accessibility standards)—(Mr Adrian Sanders)—brought up, and read the first time. Question put, That the Clause be read a second time; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Paul Tyler, Mr Paul Burstow: 38. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Graham Allen, Mr Greg Pope: 303. Another Clause (Local authority debt reduction strategies)—(Mr Christopher Chope)—brought up, and read the first time. Question put, That the Clause be read a second time; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Richard Ottaway, Mr James Cran: 142. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Clive Betts, Mr David Jamieson: 355. Another Clause (Local authority investments in energy efficiency measures)—(Mr Tim Yeo)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn. Another (Housing need criteria to be the same in England and Wales)—(Mr Nigel Evans)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn. Amendment (No.3) proposed to the Bill, in page 1, to leave out lines 16 to 21.—(Mr Christopher Chope.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be now read the third time; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Clive Betts, Mr David Jamieson: 350. Tellers for the Noes, Sir David Madel, Mr James Cran: 138. So the Question was agreed to. The Bill was accordingly read the third time, and passed.
Page 102 Tuesday 8th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top Amendment (No. 1) proposed to the Bill, in page 1, line 10, at the end, to insert the words— ‘(1A) The power of a local authority to do anything (whether or not involving the expenditure, borrowing or lending of money or the acquisition or disposal of any property or rights) which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the discharge of its functions, includes the power to enter into a contract with another person for the provision or making available of assets or services, or both (whether or not together with goods), for or in connection with those purposes.'.—(Mr David Rendel.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 2) proposed to the Bill, in page 3, line 16, at the end, to insert the words— ‘(3A) A person signing the certificate on behalf of the local authority shall in doing so be under no duty to any party other than the local authority on behalf of which he has signed.'.—(Mr Paul Burstow.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 3) proposed to the Bill, in page 4, line 15, at the end, to insert the words— ‘(3A) Before making a determination under subsection (3), a court shall have regard to the consequences for the parties to the contract of such a determination arising from provision made in any relevant discharge terms relating to the contract.'.—(Mr Paul Burstow.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The Bill was read the third time, and passed.
(1) by leaving out items 3, 4, 10 and 15 in the Table in paragraph (2) and inserting the following items at the appropriate places: ‘Education and Employment/Department for Education and Employment/17/5'; ‘Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs/Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions/17/5'; ‘International Development/Department for International Development/11/3'; (2) by leaving out line 10 and inserting the words ‘The Education and Employment Committee and the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee shall each have the power to appoint two sub-committees; and the'; (3) in line 25, at the end, by inserting the words ‘and to lay upon the Table of the House the minutes of the proceedings of sub-committees'; (4) in line 36, after the word ‘House', by leaving out the word ‘and'; and (5) in line 37, after the second word ‘place', by inserting the words ‘to report from time to time the minutes of their proceedings, and to meet concurrently with any committee appointed under this order or any sub-committee thereof for the purposes of deliberating or taking evidence'.—(Mr Graham Allen.)
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till fourteen minutes to Nine o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 8.46 p.m. Page 103 Tuesday 8th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
(2) North and East Devon Health Authority (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 1997 (S.I., 1997, No. 1619), and (3) Worcestershire Community Healthcare National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 1997 (S.I., 1997, No. 1620), dated 1st July 1997 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dobson]. Other Papers:
(1) Broadcasting Complaints Commission for 1996–97 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 25]; (2) British Broadcasting Corporation for 1996–97 [by Command]; and (3) Broadcasting Standards Council for 1996–97, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; [Mr Secretary Smith].
(1) National Savings Bank Investment Deposits Accounts, and (2) National Savings Bank Ordinary Deposits Accounts for 1995, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 99 and 100] [Clerk of the House].
APPENDIX II Reports from Select Committees
Page 104 Tuesday 8th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top [No. 38.] Wednesday 9th July 1997. The House met at half-past Nine o'clock. PRAYERS.
And it being Two o'clock, the Motion for the adjournment of the House lapsed, without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
Pensions,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House condemns the Government's assault on pension funds through the removal of tax relief on dividend income of pension funds in direct betrayal of their election pledges; agrees with the National Association of Pension Funds that this is the biggest attack on funded pension provision since the War; believes the brunt of the cost of the Windfall Tax will also fall on pension funds; warns members of occupational schemes that they and their employers will have to increase contributions to maintain benefits; further warns personal pension holders that they will need to pay higher premiums or suffer significantly lower pensions; believes the Government is guilty of mis-selling personal pensions if it refuses to spell out how much this tax change will cost pension holders; demands that the Government increases the contracted out rebate to avoid large-scale contracting back into SERPS; deplores the total absence of consultation about these far-reaching changes in company and pension taxation which has resulted in shoddy, hastily prepared and ill-thought-out proposals; and calls for the Government to withdraw these measures until it has prepared a Green Paper on future reform of company taxation and its implications for pension provision—(Mr Peter Lilley); Page 105 Wednesday 9th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 1, to leave out from the word ‘House' to the end of the Question and add the words ‘condemns the failure of the last Government to foster security in retirement for either today's pensioners or pensioners of the future; supports the present Government's objective of a decent income for all in retirement; believes that the best way to achieve this is by developing second pensions building on the foundation of the basic state pension; commends the Government's decisive action on the past mis-selling of private pensions; endorses the measures taken in the Budget, particularly the reforms to corporation tax, which will help to create a climate encouraging higher investment and a higher sustainable growth rate increasing the capacity of the economy to support decent pensions; supports the Government's welfare-to-work proposals, which will improve the employment opportunities for thousands of people, enabling them to save for their own retirement; and welcomes the Government's commitment to review pensions and achieve security in retirement for all', instead thereof.—(Mr Alistair Darling). 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, Mr Oliver Heald, Mr Nigel Waterson: 190. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Jim Dowd, Mr Robert Ainsworth: 353. 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 condemns the failure of the last Government to foster security in retirement for either today's pensioners or pensioners of the future; supports the present Government's objective of a decent income for all in retirement; believes that the best way to achieve this is by developing second pensions building on the foundation of the basic state pension; commends the Government's decisive action on the past mis-selling of private pensions; endorses the measures taken in the Budget, particularly the reforms to corporation tax, which will help to create a climate encouraging higher investment and a higher sustainable growth rate increasing the capacity of the economy to support decent pensions; supports the Government's welfare-to-work proposals, which will improve the employment opportunities for thousands of people, enabling them to save for their own retirement; and welcomes the Government's commitment to review pensions and achieve security in retirement for all.
To be communicated to the Lords, and their concurrence desired thereto.
(1) residents of Dedham Vale and others for protection of the natural heritage in Dedham Vale and elsewhere against the erection of mobile telecommunications masts, and (2) residents of Ongar and others, for a review of proposals to cease in-patient treatment at Ongar War Memorial Hospital were presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till ten minutes to Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 10.50 p.m. Page 106 Wednesday 9th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
APPENDIX II Committee of Selection
Page 107 Wednesday 9th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top
MEMORANDA
(1) the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) Order 1997 (S.I., 1997, No. 1565) to the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; (2) the draft Supply of Beer (Tied Estate) (Amendment) Order 1997 to the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; (3) the draft Further Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 to the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; (4) the draft International Fund for Agricultural Development (Fourth Replenishment) Order 1997 and the Asian Development Bank (Sixth Replenishment of the Asian Development Fund) Order 1997 to the Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; (5) the draft Contracting Out (Metropolitan Police and Civil Staffs Pensions) Order 1997 to the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and (6) the draft Allocation of Housing (Reasonable and Additional Preference) Regulations 1997 to the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation.
(1) Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody Chairman of the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) Order 1997 (S.I., 1997, No. 1565); (2) Mr Donald Anderson Chairman of the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Supply of Beer (Tied Estate) (Amendment) Order 1997; (3) Dr Michael Clark Chairman of the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Further Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997; (4) Mr Nicholas Winterton Chairman of the Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft International Fund for Agricultural Development (Fourth Replenishment) Order 1997 and the draft Asian Development Bank (Sixth Replenishment of the Asian Development Fund) Order 1997; (5) Mr Peter Atkinson Chairman of the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Contracting Out (Metropolitan Police and Civil Staffs Pensions) Order 1997; and (6) Mr Roger Gale Chairman of the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Allocation of Housing (Reasonable and Additional Preference) Regulations 1997. Page 108 Wednesday 9th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top [No. 39.] Thursday 10th July 1997. The House met at half-past Two o'clock. PRAYERS.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be now read a second time. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Jane Kennedy, Mr Jim Dowd: 314. Tellers for the Noes, Mr James Cran, Mr Nigel Waterson: 179. So the Question was agreed to. The Bill was accordingly read a second time. Ordered, That— (1) Clauses Nos. 1, 15, 17 and 19 be committed to a Committee of the whole House; (2) the remainder of the Bill be committed to a Standing Committee; and (3) when the provisions of the Bill considered, respectively, by the Committee of the whole House and by the Standing Committee have been reported to the House, the Bill be proceeded with as if the Bill had been reported as a whole to the House from the Standing Committee.—(Mrs Helen Liddell.) Committee to-morrow.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty-two minutes to Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 10.38 p.m. Page 109 Thursday 10th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
(2) Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) Order 1997 (S.I., 1997, No. 1676), dated 9th July 1997 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Smith]. Other Papers:
(1) Coastguard Agency, and (2) Driving Standards Agency for 1996–97, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 42 and 46] [Mr Secretary Prescott].
Page 110 Thursday 10th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top
APPENDIX II Committee of Selection
MEMORANDUM
[No. 40.] Friday 11th July 1997. The House met at half-past Nine o'clock. PRAYERS.
The Motion was, with leave of the House, withdrawn. Page 111 Friday 11th July 1997 1997-1998 Volume 254 Back to top
And it being half-past Two o'clock, the Motion for the adjournment of the House lapsed, without Question put.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty-seven minutes to Three o'clock, adjourned till Monday 14th July. [Adjourned at 2.33 p.m. APPENDIX Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
MEMORANDA
(1) the Finance Bill (except Clauses Nos. 1, 15, 17 and 19) to Standing Committee A; and (2) the draft Commissioner for Complaints (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 to the Seventh Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation.
(1) Mr John McWilliam and Mrs Ann Winterton Chairmen of Standing Committee A in respect of the Finance Bill (except Clauses Nos. 1, 15, 17 and 19); and (2) Mr John Butterfill Chairman of the Seventh Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Commissioner for Complaints (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.
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