| Session 1999-2000 |
| Commons Journal 256
Chronological Index
Page 77 1999-2000 Volume 256 [No. 23.] Monday 10th January 2000. The House met at half-past Two o'clock. PRAYERS.
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 bill), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill, it is expedient to authorise— (1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of— (a) expenditure incurred by the Electoral Commission by virtue of the Act; (b) expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in consequence of the Act; and (c) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums which under any other Act are payable out of money so provided; (2) the payment out of the Consolidated Fund of— (a) salaries, allowances and other benefits payable to or in respect of holders (or former holders) of the office of Electoral Commissioner; and (b) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums which under any other Act are payable out of that Fund; (3) the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund—(Mr Mike Hall):—It was agreed to.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till half-past Ten o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 10.30 p.m. Page 78 Monday 10th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top APPENDIX I Papers presented by Her Majesty's Command and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned dates during the adjournment pursuant to Standing Order No. 158 (Presentation of command papers): Wednesday 22nd December 1999.
Papers delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned dates during the adjournment pursuant to Standing Order No. 159 (Presentation of statutory instruments): Papers subject to Negative Resolution: Wednesday 22nd December 1999.
(2) Local Authorities (Funds) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 3436), dated 21st December 1999 [Mr Secretary Prescott].
(2) Health Development Agency Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 3432), dated 21st December 1999 [Mr Secretary Milburn].
(2) Water Industry (Prescribed Conditions) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 3442), dated 22nd December 1999 [Mr Secretary Prescott]. Page 79 Monday 10th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top Thursday 23rd December 1999.
Wednesday 29th December 1999.
(2) Telecommunications (Interconnection) (Number Portability, etc.) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 3449), dated 23rd December 1999 [Mr Secretary Byers]. Thursday 30th December 1999.
Thursday 6th January 2000.
Friday 7th January 2000.
Other Papers: Wednesday 22nd December 1999.
(2) Afghanistan (United Nations Sanctions) (Isle of Man) (Amendment) Order 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 3318), dated 14th December 1999 [Margaret Beckett]. Tuesday 4th January 2000.
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 10th January 2000: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
(2) draft African Development Fund (Eighth Replenishment) Order 1999, and (3) draft International Development Association (Twelfth Replenishment) Order 1999 [by Act] [Secretary Clare Short]. Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Page 80 Monday 10th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top
Paper subject to Negative Resolution and also in part to Affirmative Resolution:
Other Papers:
(2) Naval and Marine Pay and Pensions (Pay and Allowances) Order 1999, dated 14th December 1999 [by Act] [Margaret Beckett].
(1) Herefordshire Education Action Zone, (2) Middlesbrough Education Action Zone, (3) Newcastle Education Action Zone, and (4) North Somerset Education Action Zone for 1998–99, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 136, 143, 138 and 144] [Clerk of the House].
Page 81 Monday 10th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top
Paper withdrawn:
APPENDIX II Standing Committees
[No. 24.] Tuesday 11th January 2000. The House met at half-past Two o'clock. PRAYERS.
Ordered, That the Bill be considered on Tuesday 18th January.
And a Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, That the Bill be now read a second time; An Amendment was proposed to the Question, to leave out from the word ‘That' to the end of the Question and add the words ‘this House notes that the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill will make the social security system yet more complicated; regrets that the child support formula will reduce the entitlement to child maintenance of many parents with care; believes that the transitional period risks causing further resentment amongst people caught between two child support regimes; deplores the complexity of the Government's proposals for the state second pension; believes that the lower earnings threshold will act as a barrier to people moving into private provision; regrets that important features of the state second pension are being left for later regulation; and accordingly declines to give the Bill a Second Reading because it represents a missed opportunity on the part of the Government to reform social security', instead thereof.—(Mr David Willetts.) And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made; Page 82 Tuesday 11th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mrs Jacqui Lait, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 180. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe, Jim Dowd: 340. So the Question was negatived. And the Main Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 62 (Amendment on second or third reading); The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe, Jim Dowd: 338. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Andrew Stunell, Mr Phil Willis: 43. So the Question was agreed to. The Bill was accordingly read a second time and stood committed to a Standing Committee.
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 purposes of any Act resulting from the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill, it is expedient to authorise— (1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of— (a) any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State for or in connection with the carrying out of his functions under the Act; and (b) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums which are payable out of money so provided under any other Act; and (2) the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund—(Mr Graham Allen):—It was agreed to.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till two minutes to Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 10.58 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
Page 83 Tuesday 11th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top
APPENDIX II Standing Committees
APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
(2) Second Special Report from the Committee [Government Response to the First Report from the Committee, on The Current Crisis in the Livestock Industry], together with an Appendix; to be printed [No. 149]; and (3) Memoranda laid before the Committee [Environmental Regulation and Farming: Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round; Marketing of Milk; Rural Development Regulation; Segregation of GM Foods; UK Beef Exports] [Mr Peter Luff].
[No. 24; WH, No. 11] Tuesday 11th January 2000. The House sitting in Westminster Hall [pursuant to the Order of 24th May 1999]. The sitting commenced at Ten o'clock.
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 12.45 p.m. Page 84 Tuesday 11th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top [No. 25.] Wednesday 12th January 2000. The House met at half-past Two o'clock. PRAYERS.
(In the Committee) Clause No. 1 (New system of electoral registration). Another Amendment (No. 1) proposed, in page 2, line 44, to leave out from the word ‘elector' to the end of line 2 on page 3.—(Mr Gerald Kaufman.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause agreed to. Clauses Nos. 2 to 5 agreed to. Clause No. 6 (Notional residence: declarations of local connection). Amendment (No. 13) proposed, in page 8, line 23, at the end to insert the words ‘and shall be accompanied by at least one item of documentary evidence of the type referred to in subsection (3A) below demonstrating that the declarant is a living person and at least one item of documentary evidence of the type referred to in subsection (3A) below demonstrating that the declarant has resided at the required address, provided that this requirement shall be satisfied by the production of a single item of documentary evidence only, if that item demonstrates both that the declarant is a living person and that he has resided at the required address. (3A) The items of documentary evidence required for the purposes of subsection (3) shall be any of (a) a valid United Kingdom passport; (b) a valid United Kingdom driving licence; (c) a printed statement from a bank or building society authorised to do business in the United Kingdom and which is dated not more than 28 days before the date of the declaration; (d) a copy of any of the foregoing certified by a commissioner for oaths; (e) a letter from an officer of a registered charity active within the parliamentary constituency and which is dated not more than 28 days before the date of the declaration certifying that the declarant is a living person and has resided at the required address; (f) a letter from the principal officer of a hostel for homeless persons within the parliamentary constituency and which is dated not more than 28 days before the date of the declaration certifying that the declarant is a living person and has resided at the required address, or such other document as may in the reasonable opinion of the registration officer concerned constitute sufficient evidence of the matters referred to in subsection (3). (3B) If a person makes a declaration of local connection supported by items of documentary evidence referred to in subsection (3A) and one or more items of that documentary evidence are false, he is guilty of an offence. (3C) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (3B) is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding Level 5 on the Standard Scale. (3D) The declaration of any person convicted of an offence under subsection (3B) of this section shall be rendered void upon his conviction.'.—(Mr Nigel Evans.) Page 85 Wednesday 12th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 15) proposed, in page 8, line 38, at the end to insert the words ‘provided that, in determining this, no account shall be taken of time which he spends in any place in the course of employment or of the provision of services for pecuniary reward'.—(Mr Nigel Evans.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 102) proposed, in page 8, line 43, at the end to insert the words ‘and the declarant's previous address'.—(Mr William Ross.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 16) proposed, in page 9, line 14, at the end to insert the words— ‘(7A) If a person knowingly makes a declaration of local connection at a time when there is in existence another declaration of local connection which he has made and which has not been cancelled or rendered void, he is guilty of an offence. (7B) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (7A) of this section is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding Level 5 on the Standard Scale.'.—(Mr Nigel Evans.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 17) proposed, in page 9, line 20, at the end to insert the words— ‘(10) A declaration of local connection shall be of no effect if that declaration states an address which is an address within a constituency which is not represented by a Member of Parliament at the time when that declaration is received by the registration officer'.—(Mr Nigel Evans.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendments (Nos. 56 and 57) made. Clause, as amended, agreed to. Clause No. 7 (Service declarations). Question proposed, That the Clause stand part of the Bill. And it being Ten o'clock, the Chairman left the Chair to report progress and ask leave to sit again. The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair; and Mr Mike Hall reported, That the Committee had made progress in the Bill, and moved, That the Committee may have leave to sit again.
(In the Committee) Clause No. 7 (Service declarations). Question again proposed, That the Clause stand part of the Bill. Question put and agreed to. Clause No. 8 agreed to. Schedule No. 1 (Registration: amendments of 1983 Act). Amendment (No. 85) proposed, in page 18, line 24, at the end, to insert the words— ‘(2A) The requirement at subsection (2)(a) above for the inclusion of the name of the person to be registered shall not apply where, in the opinion of the registration officer, inclusion would be prejudicial to the safety of that person.'.—(Mr Martin Linton.) Page 86 Wednesday 12th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 111) proposed, in page 19, line 20, to leave out the word ‘October' and to insert the word ‘September'.—(Mr William Ross.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 112) proposed, in page 20, line 43, after the word ‘publish', to insert the words ‘in print and in electronic format.'.—(Mr William Ross.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendment (No. 58) made. Another Amendment (No. 44) proposed, in page 21, line 41, at the end, to insert the words— ‘(1A) The registration officer shall determine an application for an alteration of the register within a period of three working days from receipt of the application.'.—(Mr Harry Barnes.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Other Amendments (Nos. 59 to 65) made. Another Amendment (No. 55) proposed, in page 26, line 20, to leave out the word ‘authorising' and to insert the word ‘requiring'.—(Mr Harry Barnes.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Schedule, as amended, agreed to. Schedules Nos. 2 and 3 agreed to. To report progress and ask leave to sit again.—(Mr Mike Hall.) The Deputy Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr Mike Hall reported, That the Committee had made progress in the Bill, and directed him to move, That the Committee may have leave to sit again. Committee again to-morrow.
Thursday 13th January 2000. And the Question being put; Resolved, That this House do now adjourn. And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till Twelve o'clock on Thursday morning, adjourned till this day. [Adjourned at 12 midnight. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
(1) III (International Development), and (2) X (Culture, Media and Sport) for 1998–99 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 11-III and -X] [Mr Stephen Timms].
Page 87 Wednesday 12th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top
APPENDIX II Standing Committees
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Bill to Standing Committee E, and has appointed Mr Roger Gale and Mr Joe Benton Chairmen; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated twenty-five Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Robert Ainsworth, Mr Peter Atkinson, Mr Tony Clarke, Mr Geraint Davies, Mr Don Foster, Mr James Gray, Mr Ivan Henderson, Mr Keith Hill, Mr Phil Hope, Mr Bernard Jenkin, Mr Christopher Leslie, Mr Michael Moore, Mr Chris Mullin, Mr Owen Paterson, Mr Michael Portillo, Mr Lawrie Quinn, Mr Nick Raynsford, Mr John Smith, Mr Peter Snape, Mr Ian Stewart, Dr Gavin Strang, Mr Robert Syms, Ms Claire Ward, Ms Rosie Winterton and Mr Phil Woolas.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Bill to Standing Committee F, and has appointed Mr William O'Brien and Sir David Madel Chairmen; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated twenty-three Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Richard Burden, Mr Paul Burstow, Mrs Janet Dean, Mr Andrew Dismore, Mr Jim Dobbin, Angela Eagle, Mr Andrew George, Mr Kevin Hughes, Mrs Joan Humble, Ms Fiona Jones, Miss Julie Kirkbride, Mrs Jacqui Lait, Mr Edward Leigh, Judy Mallaber, Kali Mountford, Mr Eric Pickles, Mr Laurence Robertson, Mr Jeff Rooker, Mr Chris Ruane, Mr David Stewart, Mr Desmond Swayne, Ms Dari Taylor and Mr Jon Trickett.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Bill to Standing Committee G, and has appointed Mr John Maxton and Mrs Ray Michie Chairmen; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Ms Candy Atherton, Charlotte Atkins, Mr Malcolm Bruce, Mr Stephen Day, Mr Dominic Grieve, Mr Fabian Hamilton, Ms Oona King, Mr Bob Laxton, Mr Tom Levitt, Dr Julian Lewis, Mr Martin Linton, Mr Andrew Miller, Mrs Barbara Roche, Mr Andrew Stunell, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe, Paddy Tipping and Mr Robert Walter.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr Bill Olner Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Richard Allan, Mr Nigel Beard, Mr Clive Betts, Mr Tim Boswell, Mrs Helen Brinton, Mr Ian Bruce, Mr Roger Casale, Mr William Cash, Mrs Louise Ellman, Lorna Fitzsimons, Dr Evan Harris, Mr Jim Marshall, Mr Alan Meale, Mr John Randall, Dr Alan Whitehead and Mr Malcolm Wicks.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr Nicholas Winterton Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Norman Baker, Mr Harry Barnes, Mrs Liz Blackman, Tom Cox, Mr Barry Gardiner, Mr Nick Gibb, Mrs Eleanor Laing, Mrs Helen Liddell, Mr George Mudie, Mr James Plaskitt, Mr Greg Pope, Joan Ruddock, Mr Nick St Aubyn, Mr Jonathan Sayeed, Mr Andrew Stunell and Mr Derek Twigg. Page 88 Wednesday 12th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Transport Sub-Committee of the Committee [Light Rapid Transit Systems]; to be printed [No. 153-i] [Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody].
[No. 25; WH, No. 12] Wednesday 12th January 2000. The House sitting in Westminster Hall [pursuant to the Order of 24th May 1999]. The sitting commenced at Nine o'clock.
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 1.56 p.m. [No. 26.] Thursday 13th January 2000. The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock. PRAYERS.
Bill to be read a third time.
(In the Committee) Clause No. 9 (Restriction on supply of information contained in register). Amendment (No. 37) proposed, in page 10, to leave out lines 22 to 35.—(Mr Harry Barnes.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 87) proposed, in page 10, line 22, to leave out the words ‘a registration officer to prepare' and insert the words ‘the preparation of'.—(Mr John Greenway.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 22) proposed, in page 10, line 26, to leave out the words ‘or on behalf of'.—(Mr John Greenway.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Page 89 Thursday 13th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top Amendment (No. 21) made. Another Amendment (No. 91) proposed, in page 10, line 42, at the end, to insert the words— ‘(ab) to supply to any persons registered under the 1998 Data Protection Act copies of the full register and other documents, or prescribed parts of them, on payment of a prescribed fee and for exempt purposes only'.—(Mr John Greenway.) Question put, That the Amendment be made. The Committee divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mrs Eleanor Laing, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 157. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Mike Hall, Mrs Anne McGuire: 287. Clause, as amended, agreed to. Clause No. 10 (Pilot schemes). Amendment (No. 26) proposed, in page 11, line 37, at the end, to insert the words— ‘(1A) No local authority shall submit a scheme to the Secretary of State unless it has consulted with electors and other interested persons in its area on the scheme for a period of at least 28 days prior to the submission of the scheme, and the authority shall submit to the Secretary of State any responses received during the consultation period. (1B) No local authority shall submit a scheme to the Secretary of State unless the scheme has been approved by a meeting of the authority, with at least two-thirds of the members present and voting being in favour of the submission of the scheme to the Secretary of State.'.—(Mr Nigel Evans.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 18) proposed, in page 12, line 2, at the end, to insert the words— ‘(2A) Where a scheme under this section makes provision for voting in a particular election to take place on more than one day, it shall be an offence for any person to make public, at any time before all voting in the election concerned has been completed, information which indicates or purports to indicate the way in which two or more persons have cast their votes in that election. (2B) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2A) of this section is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding Level 5 on the Standard Scale, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.'.—(Mr Nigel Evans.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 19) proposed, in page 12, line 2, at the end, to insert the words— ‘(2C) Where a scheme under this section makes provision for voting in a particular election to take place on more than one day or to take place at places other than polling stations, any person voting in the election concerned shall be required, as a condition of voting, to produce at the place of voting at least one item of documentary evidence of that person's identity. (2D) The items of documentary evidence required for the purposes of subsection (2C) of this section shall be any of— (a) a valid United Kingdom passport; (b) a valid United Kingdom driving licence; (c) a printed statement from a bank or building society authorised to do business in the United Kingdom dated not more than 28 days before the day on which voting in the election commences; (d) a copy of any of the foregoing certified by a commissioner for oaths, or such other document as may in the reasonable opinion of the registration officer concerned constitute sufficient evidence of the identity of the person referred to in subsection (2C) of this section.'.—(Mr Nigel Evans.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 24) proposed, in page 12, line 2, at the end, to insert the words— ‘(2A) No scheme under this section that makes provision for voting on more than one day shall make provision for voting to take place on any Friday, Saturday or Sunday.'.—(Mr Nigel Evans.) Page 90 Thursday 13th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause agreed to. Clause No. 11 (Revision of procedures in the light of pilot scheme). Amendment (No. 66) made. Clause, as amended, agreed to. Clause No. 12 agreed to. Schedule No. 4 (Absent voting in Great Britain). Amendment (No. 86) proposed, in page 39, line 18, at the end, to insert the words— ‘Closing date for applications 7A. In paragraph (2) of regulation 69 of the Representation of the People Regulations 1986 (as amended by the Representation of the People (Amendment) Regulations 1997), for the words “5 p.m. on the eleventh day” there shall be substituted the words “noon on the fifth day (in the case of an application received by post), or noon on the second day (in the case of an application made in person),”.'.—(Mr Martin Linton.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Schedule agreed to. Clause No. 13 (Assistance with voting for persons with disabilities). Amendment (No. 28) proposed, in page 14, line 34, at the end, to insert the words— ‘(1A) After Rule 25 there shall be inserted— ”25A—(1) In the exercise of his functions under Rule 25 above, the returning officer shall have particular regard to the accessibility of polling stations to disabled persons. (2) The returning officer shall carry out an annual accessibility audit of each polling station, which shall in particular have regard to the matters set out in paragraph (3) below, and shall consult thereon such organisations as appear to him to be representative of disabled persons in his area. (3) The following points shall (without prejudice to the generality of the assessment) be taken into account in deciding whether a polling station is suitable for use by disabled persons— (a) the condition of any pathway; (b) the distance to be covered between the curtilage of the premises in which the polling station is situated and the polling station itself; (c) the distance from the polling station of car parking for disabled persons; (d) the height of any kerb, and the option of any temporary ramp; (e) the height and number of steps, and the option of any permanent or temporary ramp; (f) the signposting of alternative accessible entrances at the main entrance and all possible approaches; (g) the space inside the polling station to allow manoeuvring space for wheelchairs; (h) the levels of lighting; (i) the floor surface, and if highly polished or slippery, the availability of flat and even floor coverings; (j) whether doormats and mat-wells are level to the floor; (k) the width of doorways, height of door-handles, heaviness of door, and its direction of opening; (l) the availability of hand-rails next to steps; (m) the right to take a guide-dog into a polling station; (n) the provision of large and clear print signs; and (o) the use of colour contrast and markings on step edges. 25B—(1) Following the audit pursuant to Rule 25A(2) above, the returning officer shall designate such polling stations as appear to him suitable for use by disabled persons and shall publish, in at least two newspapers circulating widely in the constituency, a local radio station and otherwise as he considers fit, a list of his designations. (2) A polling station shall not be so designated unless the returning officer intends to provide at least one wheelchair-accessible polling booth, with a ballot box being placed at a height that a person in a wheelchair can reach unaided; and it shall be the duty of the returning officer to make such provision at each designated polling station. Page 91 Thursday 13th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top (3) The returning officer shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that— (a) at least half of the polling stations for which he is responsible shall be so designated within two years of the passing of the Representation of the People Act 2000; and (b) all polling stations shall be so designated within five years of the passing of the Representation of the People Act 2000. (4) Details of the designated status (or otherwise) of a polling station shall be provided by the returning officer on all official poll cards.”.'.—(Mr Harry Barnes.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave withdrawn. And it being Seven o'clock, the Chairman left the Chair to report progress and ask leave to sit again. The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair; and Mr Mike Hall reported, That the Committee had made progress in the Bill, and moved, That the Committee may have leave to sit again.
(In the Committee) Clause No. 13 (Assistance with voting for persons with disabilities). Another Amendment (No. 106) proposed, in page 14, line 40, to leave out the word ‘station', and to insert the word ‘booth'.—(Mr William Ross.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Another Amendment (No. 108) proposed, in page 15, to leave out lines 19 to 21. —(Mr William Ross.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause agreed to. Clauses Nos. 14 and 15 agreed to. Clause No. 16 (Citation, construction, commencement and extent). Amendment (No. 92) made. Clause, as amended, agreed to. Schedule No. 5 (Minor and consequential amendments). Amendments (Nos. 93 and 94) made. Schedule, as amended, agreed to. Schedule No. 6 (Repeals). Amendments (Nos. 95 to 100) made. Schedule, as amended, agreed to. A Clause (Special arrangements for registration when election announced)—(Mr Harry Barnes)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn. Another Clause (Official mark on ballot paper)—(Mr Martin Linton)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn. Bill, as amended, to be reported. Page 92 Thursday 13th January 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair; and Mr Mike Hall reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and directed him to report the same, with Amendments. Bill, as amended in the Committee, to be considered on Monday next and to be printed [Bill 46].
(1) farmers in the constituency of Brentwood and Ongar and from East Anglia against the removal of slaughter facilities in the over twenty month scheme at Cheale Meats Limited at Brentwood, and (2) the people of Rugby and others for aid to be directed to education for child labourers, were presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the table and to be printed.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till five minutes to Eight o'clock, adjourned till Monday 17th January. [Adjourned at 7.55 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
APPENDIX II
[No. 26; WH, No. 13]
And it being fifteen minutes to Six o'clock, the Motion for the adjournment of the sitting lapsed, and the sitting was accordingly adjourned without Question put, till Tuesday 18th January. [Adjourned at 5.45 p.m.
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