Session 1999-2000 |
Commons Journal 256
Chronological Index
Page 408 1999-2000 Volume 256 [No. 107.] Monday 5th June 2000. The House met at half-past Two o'clock. PRAYERS.
Lords Amendments 1. Proceedings on Consideration of Lords Amendments shall be completed at today's sitting and, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at Eleven o'clock. 2.(1) This paragraph applies for the purpose of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph 1. (2) The Speaker shall first put forthwith any Question which has already been proposed from the Chair and not yet decided. (3) If that Question is for the amendment of a Lords Amendment, the Speaker shall then put forthwith (a) the Question on any further Amendment of the Lords Amendment moved by a Minister of the Crown, and (b) the Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown, That this House agrees or disagrees with the Lords in the Amendment or (as the case may be) in the Amendment as amended. (4) The Speaker shall then put forthwith (a) the Question on any Amendment moved by a Minister of the Crown to a Lords Amendment, and (b) the Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown, That this House agrees or disagrees with the Lords in the Amendment or (as the case may be) in the Amendment as amended. (5) The Speaker shall then put forthwith the Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown, that this House disagrees with the Lords in a Lords Amendment. (6) The Speaker shall then put forthwith the Question, That this House agrees with the Lords in all the remaining Lords Amendments. (7) As soon as the House has agreed or disagreed with the Lords in any of their Amendments, or disposed of an Amendment relevant to a Lords Amendment which has been disagreed to, the Speaker shall put forthwith a single Question on any Amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown relevant to the Lords Amendment. Subsequent Stages 3.(1) The Speaker shall put forthwith the Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown for the consideration forthwith of any further Message from the Lords on the Bill. (2) The proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement. (3) Sub-paragraphs (4) to (7) apply for the purpose of bringing those proceedings to a conclusion. (4) The Speaker shall first put forthwith any Question which has already been proposed from the Chair and not yet decided. (5) The Speaker shall then put forthwith the Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown which is related to the Question already proposed from the Chair. (6) The Speaker shall then put forthwith the Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown on or relevant to any item. (7) The Speaker shall then put forthwith the Question, That this House agrees with the Lords in all the remaining Lords Proposals. Reasons Committee 4. The Speaker shall put forthwith the Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown for the appointment, nomination and quorum of a Committee to draw up Reasons and the appointment of its Chairman. Page 409 Monday 5th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top 5.(1) A Committee appointed to draw up Reasons shall report before the conclusion of the sitting at which it is appointed. (2) Proceedings in the Committee shall, if not previously brought to a conclusion, be brought to a conclusion 30 minutes after their commencement. (3) For the purpose of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) the Chairman shall (a) first put forthwith any Question which has already been proposed from the Chair and has not yet been decided; and (b) then put forthwith successively Questions on motions which may be made by a Minister of the Crown for assigning a Reason for disagreeing with the Lords in any of their Amendments. (4) The proceedings of the Committee shall be reported without any further Question being put. Miscellaneous 6. If the House is adjourned, or the sitting is suspended, before the expiry of the period at the end of which any proceedings are to be brought to a conclusion under this order, no notice shall be required of a Motion made at the next sitting by a Minister of the Crown for varying or supplementing the provisions of this Order. 7.(1) In this paragraph the proceedings means proceedings on Consideration of Lords Amendments, on any further Message from the Lords on the Bill, on the appointment and quorum of a Committee to draw up Reasons and the Report of such a Committee. (2) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to the proceedings. (3) The proceedings shall not be interrupted under any Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House. (4) No dilatory Motion with respect to, or in the course of, the proceedings shall be made except by a Minister of the Crown, and the Question on any such Motion shall be put forthwith. 8. If proceedings on a Motion for the Adjournment of the House would, by virtue of Standing Order No. 24 (Adjournment on specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration), commence at a time when proceedings to which paragraph 7 applies are in progress, proceedings on the Motion shall be postponed to the conclusion of those proceedings(Miss Melanie Johnson); The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr David Clelland, Mr Kevin Hughes: 244. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Peter Luff, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 126. So the Question was agreed to.
Lords Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 were agreed to. Lords Amendment No. 3. An Amendment was proposed to the Lords Amendment, in line 2, to leave out from the word to' to the end of the Lords Amendment, and to insert the words all relevant generally accepted principles of good corporate governance and in discharging its functions the Authority must act in a way which is fair, reasonable, open and proportionate'.(Mr David Heathcoat-Amory.) Question, That the Amendment be made to the Lords Amendment, put and negatived. The Lords Amendment was agreed to. Lords Amendments Nos. 4 and 5 were agreed to. Lords Amendment No. 6. An Amendment was proposed to the Lords Amendment, in line 8, at the end, to insert the words (4) The Authority's statement must be published in such manner as the Authority considers appropriate.'.(Mr Howard Flight.) Question, That the Amendment be made to the Lords Amendment, put and negatived. The Lords Amendment was agreed to. Lords Amendments Nos. 7 to 58 were agreed to. Page 410 Monday 5th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top Lords Amendment No. 59. An Amendment was proposed to the Lords Amendment, in line 30, at the end, to insert the words (10) Subsections (6) and (9) and section 383(1) do not apply if the exercise of the Authority's power under section 40(7)(a) is made at the request of the applicant.'.(Mr Howard Flight.) Question put, That the Amendment be made to the Lords Amendment. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Peter Luff, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 141. Tellers for the Noes, Jim Dowd, Mrs Anne McGuire: 250. So the Question was negatived. The Lords Amendment was agreed to. Lords Amendments Nos. 60 to 130 were agreed to. Lords Amendment No. 131. An Amendment was proposed to the Lords Amendment, in line 9, after the word subsection' to insert the words ; or (c) he did not intend to give anyone a false or misleading impression falling within section 109(2)(b) and in engaging in the relevant behaviour he was not reckless as to whether he might give anyone that false or misleading impression; or (d) where the relevant behaviour fell within section 109(2)(b) and was engaged in by a person other than an individual, the impression given by his behaviour was misleading only because of information which the individual who engaged in that behaviour on his behalf did not know about and that individual was an individual to whom subsection ( ) applies. ( ) This subsection applies to an individual if the information was withheld from him in circumstances permitted by control of information rules and he was not directly or indirectly required to engage in that behaviour by a person who did know the information.'.(Mr David Heathcoat-Amory.) Question put, That the Amendment be made to the Lords Amendment. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr Peter Luff: 112. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Greg Pope, Mr Mike Hall: 301. So the Question was negatived. The Lords Amendment was agreed to. Lords Amendments Nos. 132 to 179 were agreed to. Lords Amendment No. 180. A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment(Miss Melanie Johnson); The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Clive Betts, Mr Mike Hall: 304. Tellers for the Noes, Mrs Eleanor Laing, Mr Peter Luff: 110. So the Question was agreed to. The Lords Amendment was accordingly disagreed to. An Amendment ((a)) was proposed to the Bill, in lieu of Lords Amendment No. 180 disagreed to.(Mr David Jamieson.) Question put, That the Amendment be made. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Clive Betts, Mr Graham Allen: 302. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr Peter Luff: 110. So the Question was agreed to. Lords Amendments Nos. 181 and 182 were agreed to. Page 411 Monday 5th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top Lords Amendment No. 183. An Amendment was proposed to the Lords Amendment, in line 9, after the word position', to insert the words , or of prejudicing the competitive position of the United Kingdom,'.(Mr David Heathcoat-Amory.) Question put, That the Amendment be made to the Lords Amendment. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Peter Luff, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 129. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Clive Betts, Mr Graham Allen: 283. So the Question was negatived. The Lords Amendment was agreed to. Lords Amendments Nos. 184 to 269 were agreed to. Lords Amendment No. 270. An Amendment ((a)) was proposed to the Lords Amendment, in line 12, to leave out from the word would' to the word his' in line 14, and to insert the words at the time he decides to participate in the scheme (a) expect that he would be able to realise within a reasonable period (otherwise than on a liquidation or default of BC or a default of the investor)'.(Mr Howard Flight.) Question proposed, That the Amendment to the Lords Amendment be made: Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Lords Amendments Nos. 271 to 588 agreed to. Lords Amendment No. 589. An Amendment was made to the Lords Amendment. The Lords Amendment, so amended, was agreed to. Lords Amendments Nos. 590 and 591 were agreed to. Lords Amendment No. 592. A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House agrees with the Lords in their Amendment; And it being Eleven o'clock, the Deputy Speaker put the Question already proposed from the Chair, pursuant to Order [this day]. The Lords Amendment was agreed to. The Deputy Speaker then put forthwith the Question, That this House agrees with the Lords in all the remaining Lords Amendments. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Robert Ainsworth, Mr Clive Betts: 287. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr John Randall: 114. So the Question was agreed to. Lords Amendments Nos. 593 to 675 were accordingly agreed to.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty minutes to Twelve o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 11.40 p.m. Page 412 Monday 5th June 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. Thursday 1st June 2000
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: Friday 26th May 2000
(2) Education (Student Support) (European Institutions) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1407), dated 23rd May 2000. [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
Wednesday 31st May 2000
(2) Motor Vehicles (Tests) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1432), dated 25th May 2000, and (3) Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1434), dated 26th May 2000 [Mr Secretary Prescott]. Thursday 1st June 2000
Friday 2nd June 2000
Page 413 Monday 5th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 5th June 2000: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
(2) Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1445), dated 27th May 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Mandelson]. Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
APPENDIX II Reports from Select Committees
(2) Memoranda laid before the Committee [The Tobacco Industry And The Health Risks of Smoking] [Mr David Hinchliffe]. Page 414 Monday 5th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top [No. 108.] Tuesday 6th June 2000. The House met at half-past Two o'clock. PRAYERS.
Ordered, That the Bill be read the third time on Tuesday 13th June.
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Tuesday 13th June.
Bill to be read the third time to-morrow.
Bill, as amended in the Standing Committee, to be considered to-morrow. Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to be printed [No. 552].
Bill, not amended in the Standing Committee, to be considered to-morrow. Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to be printed [No. 555].
Bill, not amended in the Standing Committee, to be considered to-morrow. Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to be printed [No. 553].
Bill, as amended in the Standing Committee, to be considered to-morrow; and to be printed [Bill 136]. Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to be printed [No. 554].
And a Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, That the Bill be now read a second time; Page 415 Tuesday 6th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top 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 declines to give the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill a Second Reading as it fails to preserve the proud title and insignia of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; enables the political representatives of paramilitary organisations to sit on the Policing Board and District Policing Partnerships without a start to the decommissioning of illegally-held arms and explosives; provides inadequate safeguards against people convicted of terrorist offences serving on the Policing Board or the District Policing Partnerships; and threatens significantly to increase the politicisation of policing in Northern Ireland', instead thereof.(Mr Andrew MacKay.) And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Stephen Day, Mr Peter Atkinson: 142. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Tony McNulty, Mr David Jamieson: 342. 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 Tony McNulty, Mr David Jamieson: 329. Tellers for the Noes, Mr William Ross, Mr Roy Beggs: 14. 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 Police (Northern Ireland) Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of (a) any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State under the Act; and (b) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable out of money so provided under any other enactment(Mr Kevin Hughes):It was agreed to.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till three minutes to Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 10.57 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Page 416 Tuesday 6th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top
(2) Passenger and Goods Vehicles (Recording Equipment) (Approval of Fitters and Workshops) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1465), dated 5th June 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott]. Papers subject to Special Parliamentary Procedure:
Other Papers:
Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Modification) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1446), and Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1445) [by Standing Order] [The Speaker].
APPENDIX II Standing Committees
APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
Page 417 Tuesday 6th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top
[No. 108; WH, No. 64.] Tuesday 6th June 2000. The House sitting in Westminster Hall [pursuant to Order of 24th May 1999]. The sitting commenced at Ten o'clock.
And it being One o'clock accordingly the sitting was adjourned without Question put, till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 1 p.m. [No. 109.] Wednesday 7th June 2000. The House met at half-past Two o'clock. PRAYERS.
Ordered, That the Bill be further considered on Wednesday 14th June.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
Equal opportunities in Britain,A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House believes that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was being simplistic and divisive in attacking the admissions procedure of Oxford University on the basis of a single, individual case; regrets the lack of action by the Government to promote freedom and opportunity for all the people of the United Kingdom; and calls on the Government to match its rhetoric with action, by removing government obstacles to the less well-off entering university, significantly increasing investment in education, taking those on low incomes out of income tax, tackling pensioner poverty, improving the Page 418 Wednesday 7th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top quality of healthcare for all, and ensuring access to basic services in both rural and urban communities.(Mr Charles Kennedy.) 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 believes that true opportunity for all requires that access to higher education should be based on merit not background; welcomes the measures the Government has implemented to widen access as part of the record increase in education spending of 8 per cent. in real terms in this year alone; and welcomes the many initiatives taken to help those in society whose needs are greatest, including an extra £950 a year for older pensioners on low incomes and a record increase in NHS spending of an extra £2 billion this year, plus 6.1 per cent. average growth year on year until 2004', instead thereof(Mr Malcolm Wicks); And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Andrew Stunell, Mr Tom Brake: 41. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Clive Betts, Mr Robert Ainsworth: 249. 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 believes that true opportunity for all requires that access to higher education should be based on merit not background; welcomes the measures the Government has implemented to widen access as part of the record increase in education spending of 8 per cent. in real terms in this year alone; and welcomes the many initiatives taken to help those in society whose needs are greatest, including an extra £950 a year for older pensioners on low incomes and a record increase in NHS spending of an extra £2 billion this year, plus 6.1 per cent. average growth year on year until 2004. Britain's Strategic Interests,A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House believes that the strategic interests of the United Kingdom will best be served by collective action through the United Nations, NATO, the Commonwealth, the European Security and Defence Identity and similar political, economic and military institutions and initiatives; is concerned that the opportunities for a reduction in nuclear weapons have been prejudiced by the refusal of the United States Senate to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and by the proposal that the United States should deploy a system of National Missile Defence, if necessary in breach of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty; welcomes the unequivocal' declaration of the five permanent members of the Security Council that they will seek to eliminate all nuclear weapons in fulfilment of their obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; calls upon Her Majesty's Government to state, first, what its policy is towards the United States proposal for National Missile Defence and, secondly, what steps it proposes to take to fulfil its pledge to seek to eliminate nuclear weapons; congratulates the armed forces of the Crown on their successful military campaigns in Kosovo and Sierra Leone but expresses disappointment that in the latter case Her Majesty's Government has chosen to deploy UK forces independently of the United Nations peacekeeping force and not as part of it and thereby failed to strengthen the UN effort and to enhance its credibility; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to publish the policy criteria by which it determines that there is a need for intervention(Mr Menzies Campbell); 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 believes that the strategic interests of the United Kingdom are normally best served through collective action through the United Nations, NATO, the Commonwealth, the European Security and Defence Identity, and similar political, economic and military institutions and initiatives, and with allies, but that the United Kingdom should reserve the right to act independently where absolutely necessary; notes that the United States has not yet taken a decision to deploy a National Missile Defence, and that Her Majesty's Government has made clear, both to the US and to Russia, that it wishes to see the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and strategic stability, preserved; welcomes Her Majesty's Government's intention to pursue its pledge to seek to eliminate nuclear weapons through bilateral and multilateral negotiations, including through the Non-Proliferation Treaty machinery; and recalls that a principal aim of the deployment of British forces to Sierra Leone was to allow the deployment of additional UN forces, which is now well under way, and to support the UN effort there, and as such has been welcomed by the UN Secretary General', instead thereof.(Mr Peter Hain.) Question put, That the original words stand part of the Question. Page 419 Wednesday 7th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Bob Russell, Mr Andrew Stunell: 40. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Tony McNulty, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe: 229. 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); The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Tony McNulty, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe: 209. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Andrew Stunell, Bob Russell: 41. So the Question was agreed to. The Deputy Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to. Resolved, That this House believes that the strategic interests of the United Kingdom are normally best served through collective action through the United Nations, NATO, the Commonwealth, the European Security and Defence Identity, and similar political, economic and military institutions and initiatives, and with allies, but that the United Kingdom should reserve the right to act independently where absolutely necessary; notes that the United States has not yet taken a decision to deploy a National Missile Defence, and that Her Majesty's Government has made clear, both to the US and to Russia, that it wishes to see the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and strategic stability, preserved; welcomes Her Majesty's Government's intention to pursue its pledge to seek to eliminate nuclear weapons through bilateral and multilateral negotiations, including through the Non-Proliferation Treaty machinery; and recalls that a principal aim of the deployment of British forces to Sierra Leone was to allow the deployment of additional UN forces, which is now well under way, and to support the UN effort there, and as such has been welcomed by the UN Secretary General.
And the Motion having been made after Ten o'clock, and the Debate having continued for half an hour, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House, without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order, it being then eight minutes to Eleven o'clock, till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 10.52 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
(2) Metropolitan Police (Capital Finance) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1474), and (3) Regulation of Bus Services in Greater London (Transitional Provisions) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1462), dated 5th June 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].
(2) Motor Cycles (Protective Helmets) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1488), dated 6th June 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott].
Page 420 Wednesday 7th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top
Other Papers:
APPENDIX II Standing Committees
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Bill to Standing Committee B, and has appointed Mr Edward O'Hara and Mr Humfrey Malins Chairmen; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated twenty Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Desmond Browne, Mr Keith Darvill, Jim Dowd, Mr Dominic Grieve, Mr George Howarth, Mr Andrew Hunter, Mr Adam Ingram, Helen Jackson, Mr Eddie McGrady, Mr Tony McWalter, Mr Ken Maginnis, Mr Seamus Mallon, Mr Lembit Opik, Mr Stephen Pound, Mr Malcolm Savidge, Mr John M. Taylor, Mr Peter Temple-Morris, Mr William Thompson, Dr Jenny Tonge and Mr Shaun Woodward.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Bill to Standing Committee F, and has appointed Mr George Stevenson Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr John Burnett, Mr Brian Cotter, Mr David Crausby, Mr Jim Dobbin, Mr Michael Fabricant, Mr Nick Gibb, Dr Kim Howells, Mr Lindsay Hoyle, Helen Jones, Mrs Eleanor Laing, Dr Doug Naysmith, Mr Stephen O'Brien, Mr Greg Pope, Mr Alan Simpson, Mr Derek Twigg and Mr Brian White.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Report to the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr Bowen Wells Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Robert Ainsworth, Mr Peter Atkinson, Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas, Mr Edward Davey, Mr Don Foster, Mrs Llin Golding, Ms Harriet Harman, Ms Beverley Hughes, Ms Sally Keeble, Mr David Kidney, Mr Tim Loughton, Mr Denis Murphy, Sir Michael Spicer, Mr John Townend, Mr Jon Trickett and Mr Shaun Woodward.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr John McWilliam Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Tony Baldry, Mr Tom Brake, Mrs Helen Brinton, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr Jim Cousins, Mrs Ann Cryer, Dr Ian Gibson, Mrs Teresa Gorman, Mr David Heath, Mr Brian Jenkins, Lynne Jones, Mrs Anne McGuire, Mr Alan Meale, Mr James Paice, Mr Gordon Prentice and Ms Joyce Quin.
Page 421 Wednesday 7th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top Grand Committees
European Standing Committees
APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [The Lessons of Kosovo]; to be printed [No. 347-viii] [Mr Bruce George].
(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Housing Benefit]; to be printed [No. 385-vi] [Mr Archy Kirkwood]. [No. 109; WH, No. 65.] Wednesday 7th June 2000. The House sitting in Westminster Hall [pursuant to Order of 24th May 1999]. The sitting commenced at half-past Nine o'clock.
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 1.59 p.m. Page 422 Wednesday 7th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top [No. 110.] Thursday 8th June 2000. The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock. PRAYERS.
Ordered, That the Bill be considered on Thursday 15th June.
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Thursday 15th June.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 21st July.
Pensions,A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House believes that the Government's policy towards pensioners is patronising and confusing; recognises that pensioners want the dignity of receiving social security through their basic state pension as an entitlement and not through complicated special payments; urges therefore that the winter fuel payment, free TV licence, and the age addition, along with funds from abolishing the failed New Deal for Lone Parents and other savings, should all be put into a substantial increase in the basic state pension for 2001/2002 of £5.50 for a single pensioner under 75, £7 for a couple under 75, £7.50 for a single pensioner over 75, and £10 for a couple over 75, together with a commensurate increase in thresholds for benefits and tax allowances, so that the value of the increase is passed on to all pensioners, ensuring that they are better off than at present under this Government's muddled and incompetent policies(Mr David Willetts); 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 condemns the Opposition for making no commitment to the welfare of either today's or tomorrow's pensioners, opposing every step the Government has taken to help pensioners and producing proposals for next year's basic pension uprating which amount to bribing pensioners with money which is already theirs; recognises the legacy of increasing pensioner poverty left by the last Government; applauds the Government for doing more to help all pensioners, spending £6½ billion more than planned by the last Government, but most for those who need help most by concentrating half the additional money on the poorest quarter of pensioners; congratulates the Government for tackling poverty directly with the Minimum Income Guarantee, helping take-up through better publicity and simplified claims procedures; supports the Government's plans to help those pensioners who just fail to qualify for the Minimum Income Guarantee by raising the capital limits to £12,000 from April 2001 and committing itself to bringing forward proposals for a Pensioner Credit which will reward thrift; congratulates the Government for helping all pensioners with their costs, including Winter Fuel Payments and free television licences for people aged 75 and over; and applauds the Government's strategy for ensuring that, in the future, nobody who has put in a lifetime of work or caring need retire onto means-tested benefits, including a commitment to the basic state pension, a state second pension which does more for 18 million people including those on low and moderate pay, with caring responsibilities or broken work records because of disability, and new flexible, low cost, stakeholder pensions', instead thereof.(Mr Secretary Darling.) And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question; Page 423 Thursday 8th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr John Randall, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 121. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Mike Hall, Mr Don Touhig: 301. 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 Opposition for making no commitment to the welfare of either today's or tomorrow's pensioners, opposing every step the Government has taken to help pensioners and producing proposals for next year's basic pension uprating which amount to bribing pensioners with money which is already theirs; recognises the legacy of increasing pensioner poverty left by the last Government; applauds the Government for doing more to help all pensioners, spending £6½ billion more than planned by the last Government, but most for those who need help most by concentrating half the additional money on the poorest quarter of pensioners; congratulates the Government for tackling poverty directly with the Minimum Income Guarantee, helping take-up through better publicity and simplified claims procedures; supports the Government's plans to help those pensioners who just fail to qualify for the Minimum Income Guarantee by raising the capital limits to £12,000 from April 2001 and committing itself to bringing forward proposals for a Pensioner Credit which will reward thrift; congratulates the Government for helping all pensioners with their costs, including Winter Fuel Payments and free television licences for people aged 75 and over; and applauds the Government's strategy for ensuring that, in the future, nobody who has put in a lifetime of work or caring need retire onto means-tested benefits, including a commitment to the basic state pension, a state second pension which does more for 18 million people including those on low and moderate pay, with caring responsibilities or broken work records because of disability, and new flexible, low cost, stakeholder pensions. Genetically-modified Crops,A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House deplores the Government's mishandling of the consequences of the presence of GM seeds in a batch of conventional oil seed rape seeds imported to Britain from Canada, which were subsequently planted for commercial purposes; and condemns the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's response which has led to a collapse in public confidence and unnecessary difficulties for the agricultural industry(Mr Tim Yeo); 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 endorses Her Majesty's Government's approach to the development of GM technology in agriculture; believes that the Government has responded in a responsible, open, considered and proportionate way to the recent discovery of the adventitious presence of GM seed in conventional oilseed rape seed; supports the priority the Government has given and continues to give to the protection of public health and the environment, and its continued determination to act on the best available scientific advice; applauds the creation of the new, independent Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission to provide strategic advice on GM issues; welcomes the announcement by the seed company Advanta, following discussions with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, that they will provide a fair and equitable compensation package to affected farmers; and commends the Government for the action it is taking at both national and international level to minimise the risk of a similar incident occurring in the future', instead thereof.(Mr Nicholas Brown.) 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 Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr John Randall: 144. Tellers for the Noes, Jim Dowd, Mr Clive Betts: 267. 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); Page 424 Thursday 8th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Jim Dowd, Mr Clive Betts: 253. Tellers for the Noes, Mr John Randall, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 125. So the Question was agreed to. The Deputy Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to. Resolved, That this House endorses Her Majesty's Government's approach to the development of GM technology in agriculture; believes that the Government has responded in a responsible, open, considered and proportionate way to the recent discovery of the adventitious presence of GM seed in conventional oilseed rape seed; supports the priority the Government has given and continues to give to the protection of public health and the environment, and its continued determination to act on the best available scientific advice; applauds the creation of the new, independent Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission to provide strategic advice on GM issues; welcomes the announcement by the seed company Advanta, following discussions with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, that they will provide a fair and equitable compensation package to affected farmers; and commends the Government for the action it is taking at both national and international level to minimise the risk of a similar incident occurring in the future.
(1) residents of Derbyshire and elsewhere calling for control on the activities of sex offenders against children; and (2) residents of Gainsborough and surrounding areas opposing discrimination by the broadcasting authorities against religious bodies were presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till nineteen minutes to Eight o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 7.41 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
(2) Processed Cereal-based Foods and Baby Foods for Infants and Young Children (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1510), dated 7th June 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Milburn].
(2) Transport for London (Transitional Provisions) (Croydon Tramlink) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1506), dated 2nd June 2000 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Prescott]. Page 425 Thursday 8th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top
(2) Undersized Spider Crabs Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1502), dated 7th June 2000 [by Act] [Mr Nicholas Brown].
(2) Value Added Tax (Refund of Tax) (No. 2) Order 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1515), dated 7th June 2000 [by Act] [Dawn Primarolo]. Other Papers:
APPENDIX II Standing Committees
European Standing Committees
APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
Page 426 Thursday 8th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top
[No. 110; WH, No. 66.] Thursday 8th June 2000. The House sitting in Westminster Hall [pursuant to Order of 24th May 1999]. The sitting commenced at half-past Two o'clock.
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till Tuesday 13th June. [Adjourned at 5.44 p.m. [No. 111.] Friday 9th June 2000. The House met at half-past Nine o'clock. PRAYERS.
Ordered, That the Bill be considered on Friday 21st July.
Amendment (No. 26) proposed to the Bill, in page 1, line 5, to leave out the words shall within one year of the passing of this Act' and insert the word may', instead thereof.(Mr David Chaytor.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made; And it being half-past Two o'clock, the Debate stood adjourned. Ordered, That the Debate be resumed on Friday 21st July.
Ordered, That the Debate be resumed on Friday 21st July.
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 21st July.
Ordered, That the Debate be resumed on Friday 21st July.
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 21st July.
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 21st July. Page 427 Friday 9th June 2000 1999-2000 Volume 256 Back to top
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 21st July.
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 21st July.
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 21st July.
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Monday next.
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 21st July.
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 21st July.
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 21st July.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till two minutes past Three o'clock, adjourned till Monday 12th June. [Adjourned at 3.02 p.m. APPENDIX Papers presented or laid upon the Table:
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