House of Commons Hansard Debates for 23 Jul 1999 (pt 23)

2.26 pm

Mr. Maclean: I am pleased to add my congratulations to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Clarke) on his early piloting of the Bill through the House. I congratulate also the hon. Member for Paisley, North (Mrs. Adams), whom I have already commended for her courage in her constituency and for the skilful way in which she has piloted the Bill today. It is important particularly that I congratulate the Minister. He paid tribute to his hon. Friends and to my right hon. and hon. Friends and me for the quality of our amendments, which is rather flattering. He was either making that up or it was in his notes from his officials, in which case I am glad that we were able to impress Scottish Office officials with the quality of our drafting.

Some of our amendments were designed as probing amendments, but I would genuinely have wished to see others of them inserted in the Bill. Given the Minister's assurances that matters were already in hand or that the matters we were raising were already covered somewhere in the Bill, or that he would take up our suggestions and issue guidance and codes of practice, for example, he persuaded us not to proceed with our amendments.

I hold out the Minister as an example to be followed by some other Ministers, perhaps from south of the border, who come to the House on Fridays and become rather impatient or intolerant when they do not get their Bills through in 10 minutes flat, without Members considering them in any detail. The Bills that have come before us today have been given proper consideration.

I hope that Labour Back-Bench Members will not get too annoyed with the rest of the Government when their precious Bills are ruthlessly destroyed by the Government in a few minutes' time. It is of great regret to me that we shall not be able to consider those matters properly, as we have considered the Bill. That is because the Government have given the poisoned chalice to those nice guys from the Government Whips Office, who have to kill off legislation that the Government find intolerable.

My right hon. and hon. Friends and I thought that the Bill was good and that is why we supported it. We thought that it could be improved slightly but we were willing to accept the guidance not only of the Minister, but of the Scottish Association for Mental Health, which welcomed the Bill. It said that it was

"a small improvement to an unacceptable situation."

It spoke of the need for safeguards, and I thought that it was worth while pursuing that point. However, I was happy to back down in the light of the Minister's assurances.

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The Law Society of Scotland is also in favour of the provisions of the Bill, stating that it will

"solve a problem that is affecting a substantial number of former hospital residents in Scotland."

The society has urged Members to support the Bill. The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland also welcomes the Bill.

In these circumstances, I am happy to see the Bill pass into law. I congratulate all who have been associated with getting it this far. I hope that the measure is successful in Scotland in the coming months once it is legislation.

2.29 pm

Mrs. Irene Adams: We have had a short but interesting debate and there remains little to be said. However, I am grateful for the positive contributions that have been made, and it is good to see all Members on both sides of the House supporting the aims of the Bill.

Incapacity is no respecter of persons. It behoves us all to do everything in our power to improve the circumstances of those who sadly find themselves in that situation.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read the Third time, and passed.

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FUR FARMING (PROHIBITION) BILL

As amended in the Standing Committee, further considered.

Clause 3

Effect of Forfeiture Orders

Amendment proposed [14 May]: No. 36, in page 2, line 20, at the end to insert the words--
'(c) in Northern Ireland, to the Crown Court'.--(Mr. Forth.).

Question again proposed, That the amendment be made.

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Michael Lord): I remind the House that with this we are discussing the following amendments: No. 37, in clause 5, page 3, line 42, at end insert--

'(c) in the case of businesses or parts of businesses carried on solely or primarily in Northern Ireland, the Lands Tribunal for Northern Ireland.'.

No. 38, in clause 6, page 4, line 6, at end insert--

'(d) in relation to Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State'.

No. 35, in clause 7, page 4, line 13, leave out subsection (5).

Mr. David Maclean (Penrith and The Border): Mr. Deputy Speaker--

It being half-past Two o'clock, the debate stood adjourned.

Debate to be resumed on Friday 5 November.

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