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House of Commons
Session 1997-1998

Commons Journal 254

Chronological Index
Alphabetical Index - Part I
Alphabetical Index - Part II


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[No. 200.]

Monday 6th July 1998.

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

PRAYERS.

1Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

The Lords have agreed to the Registered Establishments (Scotland) Bill, without Amendment.

2Estimates [1st allotted day],—The House proceeded, pursuant to Resolution [1st July], to consider the estimates appointed for consideration under Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates).

Estimates, 1998–99 (Class IX, Vote I),—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed; that a further, revised sum not exceeding £6,019,940,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st March 1999 for expenditure by the Department for Education and Employment on voluntary and special schools; the Assisted Places Scheme; the provision of education for under-fives; city colleges and other specialist schools; grant-maintained schools and schools conducted by education associations; music and ballet schools; the school curriculum and its assessment; the youth service and other educational services and initiatives; careers guidance and services; payments for or in connection with teacher training; higher and further education provision and initiatives; loans to students, student awards and other student grants and their administration; the payment of access funds; reimbursement of fees for qualifying European Union students; compensation payments to teachers and staff of certain institutions; expenditure on other central government grants to local authorities; the provision of training and assessment programmes for young people and adults; initiatives to improve training and qualifications arrangements and access to these; the promotion of enterprise and the encouragement of self employment; payments for education, training and employment projects assisted by the European Community and refunds to the European Community; events associated with the UK presidency of the EU; the UK subscription to the ILO; help for unemployed people; the promotion of equal opportunities, disability rights, childcare provision and co-ordination of certain issues of particular importance to women; the payment of certain fees to the Home Office; the Department's own administration and research and that of Capita; the information and publicity services; expenditure via training and enterprise councils and amounts retained by them as surpluses and spent by them on training and other initiatives within their articles and memoranda of association; expenditure in connection with the sale of the student loans debt; and on expenditure in connection with Welfare to Work Programme and Millennium Volunteers—(Dr Kim Howells);

The Debate was concluded, and the Question necessary to dispose of the proceedings was deferred, pursuant to paragraph (4) of Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates).

Estimates, 1998–99 (Class XVII, Vote I),—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That a further sum not exceeding £55,642,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st March 1999 for expenditure by the Office of the Minister for Public Service on the central management of, and delivery of services to, the civil service including the delivery of cross-departmental IT systems; expenditure resulting from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's chairmanship of the Ministerial Committee on Food and Safety; and certain other services—(Dr David Clark);

The Debate was concluded, and the Question necessary to dispose of the proceedings was deferred, pursuant to paragraph (4) of Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates).

It being Ten o'clock, the Speaker, pursuant to paragraph (5) of Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates), put the deferred Questions on estimates.

Estimates 1998–99 (Class IX, Vote I)

Resolved, That a further, revised sum not exceeding £6,019,940,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st March 1999 for expenditure by the Department for Education and Employment on voluntary and special schools; the Assisted Places Scheme; the provision of education for under-fives; city colleges and other specialist schools; grant-maintained schools and schools conducted by education associations; music and ballet schools; the school curriculum and its assessment; the youth service and other educational services and initiatives; careers guidance and services;

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payments for or in connection with teacher training; higher and further education provision and initiatives; loans to students, student awards and other student grants and their administration; the payment of access funds; reimbursement of fees for qualifying European Union students; compensation payments to teachers and staff of certain institutions; expenditure on other central government grants to local authorities; the provision of training and assessment programmes for young people and adults; initiatives to improve training and qualifications arrangements and access to these; the promotion of enterprise and the encouragement of self employment; payments for education, training and employment projects assisted by the European Community and refunds to the European Community; events associated with the UK presidency of the EU; the UK subscription to the ILO; help for unemployed people; the promotion of equal opportunities, disability rights, childcare provision and co-ordination of certain issues of particular importance to women; the payment of certain fees to the Home Office; the Department's own administration and research and that of Capita; the information and publicity services; expenditure via training and enterprise councils and amounts retained by them as surpluses and spent by them on training and other initiatives within their articles and memoranda of association; expenditure in connection with the sale of the student loans debt; and on expenditure in connection with Welfare to Work Programme and Millennium Volunteers.

Estimates 1998–99 (Class XVII, Vote I)

Resolved, That a further sum not exceeding £55,642,000 be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund to complete or defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st March 1999 for expenditure by the Office of the Minister for Public Service on the central management of, and delivery of services to, the civil service including the delivery of cross-departmental IT systems; expenditure resulting from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's chairmanship of the Ministerial Committee on Food and Safety; and certain other services.

3Northern Ireland,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, which was laid before this House on 8th June, be approved—(Mr Clive Betts):—It was agreed to.

4Export and Investment Guarantees,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Export and Investment Guarantees (Limit on Foreign Currency Commitments) Order 1998, which was laid before this House on 11th June, be approved—(Mr Clive Betts):—It was agreed to.

5Northern Ireland,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 115 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (Delegated Legislation)), That the draft Appropriation (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, which was laid before this House on 16th June, be approved—(Mr Clive Betts):—It was agreed to.

6Public Petitions,—A Public Petition from residents of Arundel and South Downs against building new homes in the countryside and the green belt was presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.

7Public Petitions,—A Public Petition from residents of Hitchin and Harpenden against building new homes in the countryside and the green belt was presented; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.

8Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Clive Betts.)

And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty-eight minutes to Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 10.32 p.m.


APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1Education,—North Bolton Sixth Form College and South College, Bolton (Dissolution) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1608), dated 1st July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

2Road Traffic,—Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1563), dated 24th June 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

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Other Papers:

3Air Force (Constitution),—Amendments to Queen's Regulations for the Royal Air Force [by Act] [Mr Secretary Robertson].

4Appropriation Accounts, 1997–98,—Appropriation Account of the sums granted by Parliament for 1997–98 for Class XVIII, B (National Audit Office) [by Act]; to be printed [No. 833] [Mr Robert Sheldon].

5Atomic Energy,—Account of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority for 1997–98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 919] [Clerk of the House].

6Child Support,—Paper, entitled Children First: a new approach to child support [by Command] [Cm. 3992] [Secretary Harriet Harman].

7Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission,—Account of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission for 1996–97, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 918] [Clerk of the House].

8National Audit,—(1) Ninth Report of the Public Accounts Commission [by Act]; to be printed [No. 921] [Mr Robert Sheldon]; and

(2) Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on BSE: The Cost of a Crisis [by Act]; to be printed [No. 853] [Clerk of the House].

9Public Petitions,—Observations by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on the Petition [6th May] from employees of firms in the Furness Peninsula in favour of the High-Low Newton by-pass [by Standing Order]; to be printed [Clerk of the House].

10Transport Series (No. 19, 1998),—Proposed Amendments to Articles 5, 10 and 18 of the Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment to be used for such Carriage (ATP) 1970 [by Command] [Cm. 3998] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

Draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Oman), (Air Transport) (Hong Kong), and (Taxes on Income) (Kazakhstan) Orders 1998,—The Committee of Selection has discharged from the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, Mr Terry Davis, Mr David Drew, Mr Derek Foster, Mr David Hinchliffe, Gillian Merron, Mr Greg Pope and Mr Barry Sheerman (nominated in respect of the draft Orders); and nominated in substitution Mr Robert Ainsworth, Mr Jim Cunningham, Judy Mallaber, Mr Rhodri Morgan, Mr Peter Temple-Morris, Mr David Taylor and Ms Rosie Winterton.


[No. 201.]

Tuesday 7th July 1998.

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

PRAYERS.

1Deregulation Committee,—Mr Peter L. Pike reported from the Deregulation Committee the following Resolution:

That the draft Deregulation (Exchangeable Driving Licences) Order 1998, which was laid before this House on 29th June 1998, should be approved.

The Committee came to this Resolution without a Division.

2Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

The Lords do not insist on their Amendment in lieu of the Amendment made by the Commons to the Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords], on page 14, to leave out lines 31 to 49, to which Amendment in lieu the Commons have disagreed, and they do not insist on their disagreement to the said Commons Amendment; and they do not insist on their disagreement to the Amendment made by the Commons in page 22, to leave out lines 31 to 39, but propose an Amendment in lieu of the words so left out of the Bill, to which they desire the concurrence of this House.

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3Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords],—Lords Amendment in lieu of words left out of the Teaching and Higher Education Bill [Lords] to be considered to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 222].

4United Kingdom Passports,—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision with respect to the form and appearance of United Kingdom passports: And that Mr Howard Flight, Julie Kirkbride, Mr Tim Loughton, Mr Christopher Gill, Mr Owen Paterson, Mr William Cash, Dr Julian Lewis, Mr Andrew Robathan, Mrs Angela Browning and Mr Nick Gibb do prepare and bring it in.

5United Kingdom Passports Bill,—Mr Howard Flight accordingly presented a Bill to make provision with respect to the form and appearance of United Kingdom passports: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 9th October and to be printed [Bill 221].

6Opposition Day [16th allotted day],—It being an allotted day at the disposal of the Leader of the Opposition in pursuance of Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business), the House proceeded to consider opposition business.

Release of information to Select Committees:—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House considers that it is wrong in principle for the Executive to seek unilaterally to impose prior conditions on the release of information properly sought by a Select Committee in pursuit of the responsibilities given to it by the House—(Sir George Young);

An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 2, to leave out from the word ‘House' to the end of the Question and add the words ‘reaffirms that, in accordance with the House's Resolution of 19th March 1997 and the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Second Edition, January 1997), Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament; recalls that the House approved on 18th May 1998 the Government's commitment to an urgent outside investigation and publication of a full report of the Sierra Leone arms investigation; believes that nothing should be done to prejudice the conduct of that inquiry by premature public disclosure of parts of the evidence; and notes that the Foreign Secretary remains ready to make available to the Foreign Affairs Committee, on a confidential basis, the telegrams it has requested', instead thereof.—(Mrs Ann Taylor.)

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

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Peter Brooke, Mr Peter Luff: 173.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr John McFall, Mr David Jamieson: 339.

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 reaffirms that, in accordance with the House's Resolution of 19th March 1997 and the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Second Edition, January 1997), Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament; recalls that the House approved on 18th May 1998 the Government's commitment to an urgent outside investigation and publication of a full report of the Sierra Leone arms investigation; believes that nothing should be done to prejudice the conduct of that inquiry by premature public disclosure of parts of the evidence; and notes that the Foreign Secretary remains ready to make available to the Foreign Affairs Committee, on a confidential basis, the telegrams it has requested.

7Social Security,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That the Social Security Amendment (Lone Parents) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 766), dated 16th March 1998, a copy of which was laid before this House on 18th March, be revoked—(Mr Simon Burns):—It was negatived.

8Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Kevin Hughes.)

And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till sixteen minutes to Twelve o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 11.44 p.m.


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APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1Agriculture,—Organic Farming (Aid) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1606), dated 2nd July 1998 [by Act] [Dr John Cunningham].

2Criminal Law,—Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia (Freezing of Funds) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1643), dated 7th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Alistair Darling].

3Education,—Education (Start of Compulsory School Age) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1607), dated 1st July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

Other Papers:

4Audit (Northern Ireland),—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland on Special Education in Northern Ireland [by Statutory Instrument]; to be printed [No. 898] [Secretary Marjorie Mowlam].

5Defence Executive Agencies,—Report and Accounts of the Defence Bills Agency for 1997–98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 775] [Mr Secretary Robertson].

6Development of Rural Wales,—Accounts of the Development Board for Rural Wales for 1997–98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 942] [Clerk of the House].

7Development of Tourism,—Accounts of the English Tourist Board for 1997–98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 931] [Clerk of the House].

8Education (Wales),—Accounts of the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales for 1997–98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 932] [Clerk of the House].

9Gift of Public Property,—Office of Public Service Minute, dated 7th July 1998, concerning the sale of surplus government property at Gill Avenue, Bristol to Bristol Council for Disabled Adults [by Command] [Dr David Clark].

10Housing,—Report and Accounts of the Castle Vale Housing Action Trust for 1997–98 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

11National Health Service,—Statement of Guarantee given by the Secretary of State for Health on 3rd July 1998 on loans proposed to be raised by the Ashford & St Peters Hospital National Health Service Trust [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dobson].

12Public Petitions,—Observations by the Minister of State for School Standards on the Petition [15th June] from residents of Somerset against cuts in expenditure on schools in the county [by Standing Order]; to be printed [Clerk of the House].

13Social Exclusion,—Report by the Social Exclusion Unit on Rough Sleeping [by Command] [Cm. 4008] [The Prime Minister].

14United States (No. 2, 1998),—Report of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission for the period 1st October 1996 to 30th September 1997 [by Command] [Cm. 3979] [Mr Secretary Cook].

APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

Draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Oman), (Air Transport) (Hong Kong), and (Taxes on Income) (Kazakhstan) Orders 1998,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Shaun Woodward from the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Orders; and nominated in substitution Mr Nick Gibb.

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APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1Deregulation,—(1) Eighth Report from the Deregulation Committee [The draft Deregulation (Exchangeable Driving Licences) Order 1998]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 938]; and

(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 7th July [The Proposal for the Deregulation (Weights and Measures) Order 1998]; to be printed [No. 939-i]

[Mr Peter L. Pike].

2Education and Employment,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education and Employment Committee on 7th July [Review of the Government's first year in office]; to be printed [No. 930-i] [Mr Derek Foster].

3Environmental Audit,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environmental Audit Committee on 7th July [Water Issues]; to be printed [No. 940] [Mr Cynog Dafis].

4Health,—Memoranda laid before the Health Committee [Children looked after by Local Authorities] [Mr David Hinchliffe].

5Home Affairs,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Home Affairs Committee on 7th July [Electoral law and administration]; to be printed [No. 768-v] [Mr Chris Mullin].

6International Development,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the International Development Committee on 7th July [Commonwealth Development Corporation]; to be printed [No. 936-i] [Mr Bowen Wells].

7Public Administration,—(1) Fifth Report from the Select Committee on Public Administration [Annual Report of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman for 1997]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 630];

(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 7th July [Annual Report 1997–98 of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration]; to be printed [No. 933-i]; and

(3) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 7th July [Annual Report 1997–98 of the Health Service Commissioner]; to be printed [No. 934-i]

[Mr Rhodri Morgan].

8Social Security,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Social Security Committee on 7th July [Tax and Benefits]; to be printed [No. 827-iii] [Mr Archy Kirkwood].

9Statutory Instruments,—Fortieth Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments; to be printed [No. 33-xl] [Mr David Tredinnick].


[No. 202.]

Wednesday 8th July 1998.

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

PRAYERS.

1Adjournment,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn—(Mr Clive Betts);

And it being Two o'clock, the Motion for the adjournment of the House lapsed, without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.

2Alliance & Leicester plc (Group Reorganisation) Bill [Lords],—Ordered, That the Alliance & Leicester plc (Group Reorganisation) Bill [Lords] be read a second time on Thursday 16th July.

3European Standing Committee B,—Mr Edward O'Hara reported from European Standing Committee B the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of European Community Documents Nos. COM(98)300, the Preliminary Draft Budget (PDB) of the European Communities for

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1999, and SEC(98)800, the Commission's Overview of the Preliminary Draft Budget; and supports the Government's efforts to maintain budget discipline in the Community.

Report, together with Resolution, to lie upon the Table.

4Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,—Mr Bowen Wells reported from the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Oman) Order 1998, the draft Double Taxation Relief (Air Transport) (Hong Kong) Order 1998 and the draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Kazakhstan) Order 1998.

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

5Empty Homes (Value Added Tax),—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to reduce Value Added Tax paid on the renovation of long standing empty homes: And that Mr Jonathan R. Shaw, Mr Robert Marshall-Andrews, Mr Bill Rammell, Dr Brian Iddon, Mr David Chaytor, Mrs Helen Brinton, Jane Griffiths, Mr Martin Salter, Mr Derek Wyatt, Mr Vernon Coaker and Mr Brian Sedgemore do prepare and bring it in.

6Empty Homes (Value Added Tax) Bill,—Mr Jonathan R. Shaw accordingly presented a Bill to reduce Value Added Tax paid on the renovation of long standing empty homes: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 6th November and to be printed [Bill 223].

7Competition Bill [Lords],—The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Competition Bill [Lords], as amended in the Standing Committee.

Ordered, That the Bill be considered in the following Order, namely, Amendments relating to Clauses 1 to 3, Clauses 17 to 19, Schedules 1 to 4, Clauses 4 to 16, Schedule 5, Clauses 20 to 24, Schedule 6, Clauses 25 to 45, Schedule 7, Clauses 46 to 49, Schedule 8, Clauses 50 and 51, Schedule 9, Clauses 52 to 54, Schedule 10, Clause 55, Schedule 11, Clauses 56 to 74, Schedules 12 to 14, Clauses 75 and 76, New Clauses, New Schedules.—(Mr Ian McCartney.)

Amendment (No. 2) proposed to the Bill, in page 2, line 42, at the end, to insert the words ‘or—

(e) resale price maintenance for over-the-counter medicines'.—(Mr John Redwood.)

Question put, That the Amendment be made.

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Nigel Waterson, Mr Stephen Day: 161.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Greg Pope, Bridget Prentice: 328.

Another Amendment (No. 48) proposed to the Bill, in page 10, line 38, at the end, to insert the words—

‘(2A) For the purposes of this section “market” means a market the whole or part of which is in the United Kingdom but in relation to the abuse of a dominant position in a market which extends beyond the United Kingdom the prohibition imposed by subsection (1) shall not be regarded as infringed unless that abuse occurs in the United Kingdom.'.—(Mr Andrew Lansley.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment (No. 1) proposed to the Bill, in page 10, to leave out lines 40 and 41 and insert the words ‘ “dominant position” means a position of economic strength which enables an undertaking to act independently of competition, customers and ultimately consumers within the United Kingdom; and', instead thereof.—(Mr Giles Radice.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment (No. 8) proposed to the Bill, in page 10, to leave out lines 40 and 41 and insert the words ‘ “dominant position” means—

(a) in relation to the national newspaper market, a substantial degree of market power, and

(b) in relation to all other markets, a dominant position within the United Kingdom; and', instead thereof.—(Mr Chris Mullin.)

Question put, That the Amendment be made.

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The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Andrew F. Bennett, Mr Neil Gerrard: 68.

Tellers for the Noes, Jane Kennedy, Mr David Jamieson: 301.

Amendments (Nos. 69 to 72) made to the Bill.

Another Amendment (No. 6) proposed to the Bill, in page 53, to leave out lines 44 to 49.—(Mr John Redwood.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made;

And it being Ten o'clock, the Debate stood adjourned.

8Business of the House,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 15 (Exempted business), That, at this day's sitting, the Competition Bill [Lords] may be proceeded with, though opposed, until any hour—(Mr Clive Betts):—It was agreed to.

9Competition Bill [Lords],—The House again proceeded to consider the Competition Bill [Lords], as amended in the Standing Committee.

Question again proposed, That the Amendment (No. 6) be made.

Question put.

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Stephen Day, Mr Nigel Waterson: 117.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr John McFall, Mr David Jamieson: 291.

Other Amendments (Nos. 9 and 10) made to the Bill.

Another Amendment (No. 76) proposed to the Bill, in page 14, line 2, at the end, to insert the words—

‘(7) In exercising the powers conferred by subsection (6)(a)(ii) above, the Director shall afford the undertaking under investigation a reasonable opportunity for its legal or other representative to be present when the employee or officer is required to provide an explanation of the document.'.—(Mr Colin Breed.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment (No. 49) proposed to the Bill, in page 64, line 8, to leave out from the word ‘person' to the end of line 16 and insert the words ‘is—

(a) a puisne judge of the High Court;

(b) a judge of the Court of Session; or

(c) a judge of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland,

and before appointing as a member of the appeal tribunal any person who holds the judicial office mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) he shall consult the Lord Chancellor, the President of the Court of Session or the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, as he considers appropriate.', instead thereof.—(Mr Andrew Lansley.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment (No. 41) proposed to the Bill, in page 26, line 4, at the beginning, to insert the words ‘Subject to subsection (1A)'.—(Mr Andrew Lansley.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Other Amendments (Nos. 11 and 16) made to the Bill.

Another Amendment (No. 5) proposed to the Bill, in page 27, line 39, at the end, to insert the words—

‘(1A) a fee charged to a business for the discharge of functions by the Director shall not exceed the costs of fulfilling that particular function in that case.'.—(Mr Tim Boswell.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment (No. 46) proposed to the Bill, in page 28, line 15, at the beginning, to insert the words ‘Subject to subsections (4) and (5)'.—(Mr Andrew Lansley.)

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Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Other Amendments (Nos. 12, 13, 17 to 26, 52 and 14) made to the Bill.

Another Amendment (No. 61) proposed to the Bill, in page 31, line 40, to leave out from the word ‘concerned' to the end of line 43 and insert the words ‘the provisions of this Part are applied in a manner which is consistent with the application of the corresponding provisions of Community law', instead thereof.—(Mr Andrew Lansley.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment (No. 15) made to the Bill.

Another Amendment (No. 59) proposed to the Bill, in page 39, line 20, to leave out the word ‘or' and insert the words—

‘( ) section 51, in the case of the first order made by the Secretary of State under that section, or', instead thereof.—(Mr Peter Brooke.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Other Amendments (Nos. 27 to 40) made to the Bill.

A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the Bill be now read the third time.

Thursday 9th July 1998

Question put and agreed to.

The Bill was accordingly read the third time and passed, with Amendments.

10Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Greg Pope.)

And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty-nine minutes to One o'clock on Thursday morning, adjourned till this day.

[Adjourned at 12.31 a.m.


APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1Animals,—(1) Sheep and Goats Spongiform Encephalopathy Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1646), and

(2) Sheep and Goats Spongiform Encephalopathy (Compensation) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1647),

dated 7th July 1998 [by Act] [Dr John Cunningham].

2Education (Scotland),—Moray House Institute of Higher Education (Closure) (Scotland) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1644), dated 3rd July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dewar].

3Local Government,—Local Government Act 1988 (Defined Activities) (Exemptions) (Dacorum, Hertsmere and Luton Borough Councils) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1586), dated 30th June 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

4Protection of Wrecks,—Protection of Wrecks (Designation No. 1) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1650), dated 7th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Smith].

Other Papers:

5Defence,—Paper, entitled The Strategic Defence Review [by Command] [Cm. 3999] [Mr Secretary Robertson].

6Environmental Protection,—Accounts of the Nature Conservancy Council for England for 1997–98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 945] [Clerk of the House].

7Gaming,—Report and Accounts of the Gaming Board for Great Britain for 1997–98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 807] [Mr Secretary Straw].

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8Judicial Statistics,—Judicial Statistics for England and Wales for 1997 [by Command] [Cm. 3980] [Mr Geoffrey Hoon].

9Parliamentary Commissioner,—Sixth Report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, Session 1997–98: Selected Cases—November 1997 to April 1998 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 892] [Clerk of the House].

10Treaty Series (No. 27, 1998),—1994 Amendments, adopted at London on 24th May 1994, to the Annex to the International Convention for the Safety of Life of Sea, 1974 (Annex 2): Resolution 1 of the Conference of Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life of Sea, 1974 [by Command] [Cm. 3997] [Mr Secretary Cook].

APPENDIX II

Grand Committees

1The Speaker has appointed Mr Barry Jones Chairman of the Welsh Grand Committee in respect of the meeting of the Committee in Merthyr Tydfil on Monday 13th July.

Standing Committees

2Licensing (Amendment) Bill:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the Bill to Standing Committee C; and

(2) The Committee of Selection has appointed sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Harold Best, Mr Colin Burgon, Mr John Burnett, Mr John Gunnell, Mr Fabian Hamilton, Mr George Howarth, Mrs Eleanor Laing, Mrs Jacqui Lait, Mr Christopher Leslie, Alice Mahon, Mr Andrew Robathan, Mr Bob Russell, Mr David Taylor, Sir Teddy Taylor, Mr Paul Truswell and Mr Mike Wood.

3Special Grant Report (No. 36) (HC Paper No. 823) and the Special Grant Report (No. 3) (Wales) 1998 (HC Paper No. 832):

(1) The Speaker has allocated the Reports to the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and appointed Mr Roger Gale Chairman; and

(2) The Committee of Selection has appointed sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Nick Ainger, Mr Graham Allen, Mr Tony Baldry, Mr Joe Benton, Mr Colin Breed, Mr Martin Caton, Mr Terry Davis, Angela Eagle, Dr John Marek, Ms Margaret Moran, Ms Julie Morgan, Mr Lembit O­pik, Mr Laurence Robertson, Mr Chris Ruane, Mrs Caroline Spelman and Mr Robert Syms.

4Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation (Charges for Registration Schemes) Regulations 1998:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations to the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and appointed Mr Jimmy Hood Chairman; and

(2) The Committee of Selection has appointed sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Graham Allen, Jackie Ballard, Mr Andrew F. Bennett, Sir Paul Beresford, Mr Peter Bottomley, Mr Peter Bradley, Mr Alan Campbell, Mrs Ann Cryer, Mr Keith Hill, Mr Andy Love, Mr Nick Raynsford, Mr Adrian Sanders, Mrs Caroline Spelman, Mr Nick St. Aubyn, Mr Gerry Steinberg and Mr Brian White.

5Draft Community Drivers' Hours and Recording Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 1998:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations to the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and appointed Mr George Stevenson Chairman; and

(2) The Committee of Selection has appointed sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Graham Allen, Mr David Amess, Mr Ian Davidson, Maria Eagle, Dr Evan Harris, Mr Nick Hawkins, Glenda Jackson, Mr Alan Keen, Ms Chris McCafferty, Mr Kevin McNamara, Ms Margaret Moran, Mr Eric Pickles, Mr Bill Rammell, Mrs Caroline Spelman, Mr Graham Stringer and Mr Andrew Stunell.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1Agriculture,—(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Agriculture Committee on 8th July [Flood and coastal defence]; to be printed [No. 707-v]; and

(2) Memoranda laid before the Committee [Flood and coastal defence]

[Mr Peter Luff].

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2Culture, Media and Sport,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 8th July [Millennium Celebrations in the United Kingdom]; to be printed [No. 818-ii] [Mr Gerald Kaufman].

3Education and Employment,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education Sub-Committee of the Education and Employment Committee on 8th July [The Role of Headteachers]; to be printed [No. 725-vii] [Ms Margaret Hodge].

4Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs,—Seventh Report from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee [London Underground], together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Transport Sub-Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 715-I] [Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody].

5European Legislation,—(1) Thirty-third Report from the Select Committee on European Legislation; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 155-xxxiii]; and

(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on European Legislation on 8th July [Multilateral Agreement on Investment]; to be printed [No. 946]

[Mr Jimmy Hood].

6International Development,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the International Development Committee on 8th July [Conflict Prevention and Post-Conflict Reconstruction]; to be printed [No. 787-v] [Mr Bowen Wells].

7Northern Ireland Affairs,—(1) Third Report from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee [The Composition, Recruitment and Training of the RUC], together with Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 337]; and

(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on 8th July [the Prison Service in Northern Ireland]; to be printed [No. 716-iv]

[Mr Peter Brooke].

8Scottish Affairs,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Scottish Affairs Committee on 8th July [Inward Investment into Scotland]; to be printed [No. 698-iii] [Mr David Marshall].

9Social Security,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Social Security Committee on 8th July [Pension Sharing on Divorce]; to be printed [No. 869-iii] [Mr Archy Kirkwood].


[No. 203.]

Thursday 9th July 1998.

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

PRAYERS.

1Lloyds TSB Bill [Lords],—The Order of the day being read, for the Third Reading of the Lloyds TSB Bill [Lords];

Ordered, That the Bill be read the third time on Thursday 16th July.

2Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council Bill [Lords],—The Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means reported from the Committee on Unopposed Bills, That it had examined the allegations contained in the Preamble to the Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council Bill [Lords] and found the same to be true; and had gone through the Bill and had directed him to report the same without Amendment.

Bill to be read the third time.

3Royal Assent,—The Speaker notified the House, in accordance with the Royal Assent Act 1967, that Her Majesty had signified Her Royal Assent to the following Acts, agreed upon by both Houses:

Registered Establishments (Scotland) Act 1998

Pesticides Act 1998

Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) (Amendment) Act 1998.

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4Adjournment (National Health Service),—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn—(Jane Kennedy);

And it being Ten o'clock, the Motion for the adjournment of the House lapsed, without Question put.

5Scottish Grand Committee,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 100 (Scottish Grand Committee (sittings)), That the Order of the House of 30th April relating to sittings of the Scottish Grand Committee be varied by substituting for the words ‘Tuesday 14th July' in paragraph (4) of the Order the words ‘Tuesday 21st July'—(Mr Jon Owen Jones):—It was agreed to.

6Landmines Bill (Programme),—Ordered, That the following shall apply to proceedings on the Landmines Bill—

1. Proceedings on the Bill shall be completed at the sitting on Friday 10th July.

2. Proceedings on Second Reading shall, unless previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion one and half hours after the commencement of those proceedings.

3.—(1) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House shall, unless previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the end of the allotted periods specified in the following table—

ProceedingsAllotted period after the commencement of the proceedings specified in column 1
Clauses 1 to 5two and a half hours
Clauses 6 to 29, new Clauses and new Schedules three quarters of an hour

(2) On the conclusion of proceedings in Committee, the Chairman shall report the Bill to the House without putting any Question, and if he reports the Bill with amendments, the House shall proceed to consider the Bill, as amended, without any Question being put.

4. Proceedings on Consideration and Third Reading shall, unless previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion a quarter of an hour after the commencement of those proceedings.

5. Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings on the Bill at the sitting on 10th July.

6.—(1) For the purpose of bringing to a conclusion any proceedings which have not previously been brought to a conclusion, the Chairman or Speaker shall forthwith put the following Questions (but no others)—

(a) any Question already proposed from the Chair;

(b) any Question necessary to bring to a decision a Question so proposed;

(c) any Question on any Amendment moved or Motion made by a Minister of the Crown;

(d) any Question necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded; and on a Motion made for any new Clause or new Schedule, the Chairman or the Speaker shall put only the Question that the Clause or Schedule be added to the Bill.

(2) If two or more Questions would fall to be put—

(a) under sub-paragraph (1)(c) on amendments moved or Motions made by a Minister of the Crown, or

(b) under sub-paragraph (1)(d) in relation to successive provisions of the Bill, the Chairman or Speaker shall instead put a single Question in relation to those amendments, Motions or provisions.

7. Standing Order No. 82 (Business Committee) shall not apply to proceedings on the Bill.

8. No Motion shall be made to alter the order in which proceedings on the Bill are taken.

9. If a Motion is made by a Minister of the Crown to vary or supplement the provisions of this Order in relation to proceedings on the Bill, the Motion may be proceeded with, though opposed, at any hour and the proceedings on that Motion, unless previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion three-quarters of an hour after they have been commenced.—(Mr Jon Owen Jones.)

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7Public Petitions,—Public Petitions from—

(1) The Mayors and Chairs of Councils of the local authorities located in the Number 2 Region of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom against the movement of the Army's 2nd Division Headquarters from York to Edinburgh; and

(2) Residents of Wirral South and others against the closure of the Garlett Park site of Wirral Metropolitan College

were presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.

8Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Jon Owen Jones.)

And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty-eight minutes past Ten o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 10.28 p.m.


APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1Local Government Finance (Scotland),—Special Grant Report (Scotland): Grant in aid of expenditure on rural public passenger transport for 1998–99 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 941] [Mr Secretary Dewar].

2Northern Ireland,—Draft Health and Safety at Work (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 [by Act] [Secretary Marjorie Mowlam].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

3Charities,—Draft Charities (Royal Russell School) Order 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Straw].

4Education,—(1) Airedale and Wharfedale College (Dissolution) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1654),

(2) Basford Hall College, Nottingham (Dissolution) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1655),

(3) Cambridgeshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture (Dissolution) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1651),

(4) East Birmingham College (Dissolution) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1656),

(5) Harrogate College (Dissolution) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1657),

(6) High Peak College, Buxton (Dissolution) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1653), and

(7) Newton Rigg College, Penrith (Dissolution) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1652),

dated 7th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

5Education (Scotland),—(1) Education (Assisted Places) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1497), and

(2) St Mary's Music School (Aided Places) Amendment Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1498).

dated 11th June 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dewar].

6Sports Grounds and Sporting Events,—Sports Grounds and Sporting Events (Designation) (Scotland) Amendment Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1659), dated 6th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dewar].

7Water Resources,—Control of Pollution (Channel Tunnel Rail Link) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1649), dated 7th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

Other Papers:

8Coal Industry Nationalisation,—Statement of Guarantee given by the Treasury on 8th July 1998 on borrowing by the British Coal Corporation [by Act] [Dawn Primarolo].

9Defence Executive Agencies,—Report and Accounts of the Logistic Information Systems Agency for 1997-98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditior General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 786] [Mr Secretary Robertson].

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10Local Government (Wales),—Welsh Local Government Financial Statistics 1997 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Davies].

11Museums and Galleries,—Account of the British Museum for 1996–97, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 950] [Clerk of the House].

12Scottish Executive Agencies,—Report and Accounts of the Scottish Court Service for 1997–98, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 764] [Mr Secretary Dewar].

13Welsh Church,—County Council of Pembrokeshire (Welsh Church Act Trust Fund) Scheme 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Davies].

APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

1Licensing (Amendment) Bill,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Edward O'Hara Chairman of Standing Committee C in respect of the Bill.

2Special Grant Report (No. 36) (House of Commons Paper No. 823) and the Special Grant Report (No. 3) (Wales) (House of Commons Paper No. 832),—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Joe Benton from the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the Reports); and nominated in substitution Mr David Drew.

3Draft Community Drivers' Hours and Recording Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 1998,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Graham Allen from the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations); and nominated in substitution Mr Clive Betts.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1Culture, Media and Sport,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 9th July [Millennium Celebrations in the United Kingdom]; to be printed [No. 818-iii] [Mr Gerald Kaufman].

2Education and Employment,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Employment Sub-Committee of the Education and Employment Committee on 9th July [The New Deal]; to be printed [No. 263-xi] [Mr Derek Foster].


[No. 204.]

Friday 10th July 1998.

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

PRAYERS.

1Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

The Lords have agreed to the Amendments made by this House to the Data Protection Bill [Lords], without Amendment.

2Landmines Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Landmines Bill;

Mr Secretary Cook acquainted the House, That he had it in Command from the Queen to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Bill, has consented to place Her prerogative, so far as it is affected by the Bill, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of the Bill.

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A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be now read a second time:—It was agreed to.

A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 63 (Committal of bills), That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House—(Mr Greg Pope):—It was agreed to.

Further proceedings on the Bill stood postponed, pursuant to Order [3rd July].

3Landmines Bill [Money],—Her Majesty's Recommendation having been signified to the proposed Motion relating to Landmines Bill [Money];

A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 52 (Money resolutions and ways and means resolutions in connection with bills), That, for the purpose of any Act resulting from the Landmines Bill, it is expedient to authorise—

(1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any expenses of the Secretary of State incurred in consequence of the Act;

(2) the payment into the Consolidated Fund of sums received by the Secretary of State in consequence of the Act—(Mr Greg Pope):—It was agreed to.

4Landmines Bill,—The House, pursuant to Order [3rd July], resumed proceedings on the Landmines Bill; and the Deputy Speaker left the Chair.

The House resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.

(In the Committee)

Clause No. 1 agreed to.

Clause No. 2 (Prohibited conduct).

Amendment (No. 6) proposed, in page 2, line 8, to leave out the word ‘to', and insert ‘, 4 and'.—(Mr Michael Howard.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment (No. 9) proposed, in page 2, line 37, to leave out from the word ‘for' to the end of line 38, and insert the word ‘life'.—(Mr Harry Cohen.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause agreed to.

Clauses Nos. 3 to 12 agreed to.

Clause No. 13 (Rights of entry etc. for fact-finding missions).

Amendment (No. 8) proposed, in page 11, line 29, to leave out the word ‘may', and insert the word ‘shall'.—(Mr Harry Cohen.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause agreed to.

Clauses Nos. 14 to 29 agreed to.

Whereupon the Chairman left the Chair to report the Bill to the House.


The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair; and Mr Greg Pope reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill, without Amendment.

A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the Bill be now read the third time—(Mr Secretary Robertson);

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And a quarter of an hour having elapsed since the commencement of proceedings on the third reading of the Bill, the Deputy Speaker put the Question already proposed from the Chair, pursuant to Order [9th July]:—It was agreed to.

The Bill was accordingly read the third time, and passed.

5Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Greg Pope.)

And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty minutes past Two o'clock, adjourned till Monday 13th July.

[Adjourned at 2.20 p.m.


APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1Education,—Education (Student Loans) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1676), dated 9th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

2Food,—Food (Cheese) (Emergency Control) (Amendment No. 2) Order 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1673), dated 10th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dobson].

3Medical Profession,—(1) Medical Act 1983 (Approved Medical Practices and Conditions of Residence) and National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1664), dated 9th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dobson]; and

(2) Medical Act 1983 (Approved Medical Practices and Conditions of Residence) and National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1667), dated 8th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dewar].

4National Health Service,—National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1648), dated 7th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dobson].

5National Health Service (Scotland),—(1) National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1663), dated 3rd July 1998,

(2) National Health Service (Scotland) (Injury Benefits) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1594), dated 29th June 1998, and

(3) National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1593), dated 29th June 1998

[by Act] [Mr Secretary Dewar].

6Prisons,—Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Amendment Rules 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1589), dated 30th June 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dewar].

7Public Passenger Transport,—Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment, Use and Certification) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1670), dated 9th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

8Road Traffic,—(1) Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1671), and

(2) Motor Vehicles (Tests) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1672),

dated 9th July 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].

9Water Supply (Scotland),—Mines (Notification of Abandonment) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 1572), dated 23rd June 1998 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Dewar].

Other Papers:

10Committee of Inquiry into the Personality Disorder Unit, Ashworth Special Hospital (Fallon Inquiry),—Department of Health Minute concerning a contingent liability consequent upon indemnification of the Chairman and members of the Inquiry [by Command] [Mr Secretary Dobson].

11National Lottery,—Report of the Director-General of the National Lottery for 1997-98 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 885] [Mr Secretary Smith].


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