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28 Feb 2001 : Column 883

House of Commons

Wednesday 28 February 2001

The House met at half-past Two o'clock

PRAYERS

[Mr. Speaker in the Chair]

MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN

Electoral Commission

Mr. Graham Allen (Vice-Chamberlain of Her Majesty's Household): I have to inform the House that the address of 10 January, praying that Her Majesty will appoint as electoral commissioners Pamela Joan Gordon for the period of four years; Sir Neil William David McIntosh KBE for the period of four years; Jonathan Glyn Mathias for the period of five years; Sukhminder Karamjit Singh CBE for the period of five years; James Samuel Younger for the period of six years; and Graham John Zellick for the period of five years; and further praying that Her Majesty will appoint James Samuel Younger to be the chairman of the Electoral Commission for the period of six years, was presented to Her Majesty who was graciously pleased to comply with the request.

PRIVATE BUSINESS

Alliance and Leicester Group Treasury plc (Transfer) Bill [Lords]

Read the Third time, and passed.

Standing Orders

Ordered,

That the Amendments to Standing Orders set out in the Schedule be made:--

Ordered,

That the Amendments to Standing Orders set out in the Schedule be made:--


SCHEDULE


Standing Order 1, line 24, leave out 'and Wales'.1


Standing Order 1, line 30, leave out subsection (d)2


Standing Order 1, line 34, at end insert--3

'(f) the Greater London Authority;'

Standing Order 1, line 34, at end insert--4

'In Wales

(a) the council of a county,

(b) the council of a county borough,

(c) the council of a community or group of communities or the community meeting of a community which has no separate council;'

Standing Order 1, line 36, leave out from beginning to end of line 38 and insert--5

'a council for a local government area;'

Standing Order 1, line 108, leave out from beginning to 'for' in line 118.6

28 Feb 2001 : Column 884

Standing Order 4A, line 18, leave out from 'or' to 'in' in line 19 and insert--7

'(in Wales) the county or county borough or (in Scotland) the local government areas'.

Standing Order 4A, line 28, leave out from 'or' to 'in' in line 29 and insert--8

'(in Wales) the counties or county boroughs or (in Scotland) the local government area'.

Standing Order 4A, line 42, leave out from second 'or' to 'copies' in line 43 and


insert--9

'(in Wales) the county or county borough or (in Scotland) the local government area'.

Standing Order 4A, line 47, leave out '(in Scotland) the islands area or district' and


insert--10

'(in Wales) the county or county borough or (in Scotland) the local government area'.

Standing Order 5, line 5, after 'and' insert 'the counties or county boroughs in'.11


Standing Order 6, line 9, leave out from 'England' to 'parish' and insert--12

'or the county or county borough in Wales and the'.

Standing Order 7, line 6, leave out 'thirty feet' and insert '10 metres'.13


Standing Order 7, line 6, leave out 'nine feet six inches' and insert '3 metres'.14


Standing Order 7, line 9, leave out 'ten feet six inches' and insert '3.3 metres'.15


Standing Order 10, line 14, leave out '(in Scotland) the islands area or district' and


insert--16

'(in Wales) the county or county borough or (in Scotland) the local government area'.

Standing Order 10, line 23, leave out from second 'or' to 'in' in line 24 and insert--17

'(in Wales) the counties or county boroughs or (in Scotland) the local government areas'.

Standing Order 14, line 6, leave out 'thirty feet' and insert '10 metres'.18


Standing Order 14, line 7, leave out 'nine feet six inches' and insert '3 metres'.19


Standing Order 14, line 10, leave out 'ten feet six inches' and insert '3.3 metres'.20


Standing Order 16, line 9, leave out '20 miles' and insert '32 kilometres'.21


Standing Order 16, line 11, leave out '20 miles' and insert '32 kilometres'.22


Standing Order 16, line 19, leave out from 'England' to 'parish' in line 20 and insert--23

', London borough or county or county borough in Wales and the'.

Standing Order 16, line 24, at end add--24

'(2) This order shall apply to Greater London as if it were a county and the Greater London Authority were the council of the county.'

Standing Order 17, line 10, leave out '300 yards' and insert '275 metres'.25


Standing Order 20, line 6, leave out '300 yards' and insert '275 metres'.26


Standing Order 20, line 6, at end add--27

'unless after reasonable inquiry the identity of any such persons cannot be ascertained'.

28 Feb 2001 : Column 885

Standing Order 25, line 20, leave out from 'borough' to end and add--28

', district in England or county or county borough in Wales'.

Standing Order 27, line 12, leave out from second 'or' to 'in' in line 13 and insert--29

'(in Wales) of each county or county borough or (in Scotland) of each local government area'.

Standing Order 27, line 23, leave out from 'and' to 'so' in line 24 and insert--30

'(in Wales) of each county or county borough or (in Scotland) of each local government area'.

Standing Order 27, line 27, leave out from 'or' to end of line 28 and insert--31

'(in Wales) the county or county borough or (in Scotland) the local government area'.

Standing Order 27, line 45, leave out 'one inch to the mile or of'.32


Standing Order 27, line 52, leave out from 'or' to 'and' in line 53 and insert--33

'(in Wales) of the county or county borough or (in Scotland) of the local government area'.

Standing Order 27, line 57, leave out '(in Scotland) each islands area or district' and insert--34

'(in Wales) each county or county borough or (in Scotland) each local government area'.

Standing Order 27, line 79, leave out 'eleven feet' and insert '3.4 metres'.35


Standing Order 27, line 98, at end add--36

'(7) This order shall apply to Greater London as if it were a county and the Greater London Authority were the council of the county.'

Standing Order 27A, line 12, leave out from 'bill,' to 'of' in line 16 and insert--37

'(i) the information referred to in Part II of Schedule 4 to the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 293) (referred to below as "Schedule 4"), and so much of the information referred to in Part I of that Schedule as is reasonably required to assess the environmental effect of the works and as the promoters can reasonably be expected to compile; or

(ii) such'.

Standing Order 27A, line 40, leave out from first 'paragraph' to end of line 41 and insert--38

'6 of Part I and paragraph 5 of Part II of Schedule 4'.

Standing Order 27A, line 59, leave out '3' and insert '4'.39


Standing Order 27A, line 63, leave out from 'Planning' to 'with' in line 64 and insert '(Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999'.40


Standing Order 27A, line 65, leave out '3' and insert '4'.41


Standing Order 29, line 5, leave out 'six inches to the mile' and insert '1/10,000'.42


Standing Order 30, line 3, leave out 'one inch to the mile' and insert '1/50,000'.43


Standing Order 30A, line 7, leave out 'one inch to a mile' and insert '1/50,000'.44


Standing Order 30A, line 18, leave out 'one inch to a mile' and insert '1/50,000'.45


Standing Order 36, line 11, leave out 'and Wales'.46


Standing Order 36, line 13, at end insert--47

'(aa) any county or county borough in Wales with the proper officer of the county or borough;'.

Standing Order 39, line 30, leave out 'Scottish' and insert 'Scotland'.48


Standing Order 39, line 32, leave out 'Welsh' and insert 'Wales'.49

28 Feb 2001 : Column 886

Standing Order 47, line 30, leave out from 'England' to end and insert--50

', London boroughs and counties and county boroughs in Wales'.

Standing Order 48, line 2, leave out 'four inches to a mile' and insert '1/15,000'.51


Standing Order 48, line 19, leave out 'a quarter of an inch to every 100 feet', and insert '1/5,000'.52


Standing Order 48, line 21, leave out 'a quarter of an inch to every 100 feet', and insert '1/5,000'.53


Standing Order 48, line 32, leave out from 'stated' to end of line 33 and insert 'in kilometres and metres'.54


Standing Order 50, line 3, leave out 'miles and furlongs' and insert 'kilometres'.55


Standing Order 50, line 6, leave out 'one mile' and insert '1.6 kilometres'.56


Standing Order 50, line 13, leave out '800 yards' and insert '750 metres'.57


Standing Order 52, line 9, leave out 'thirty feet' and insert '10 metres'.58


Standing Order 52, line 13, leave out 'nine feet six inches' and insert '3 metres'.59


Standing Order 52, line 16, leave out 'ten feet six inches' and insert '3.3 metres'.60


Standing Order 52, line 25, leave out 'miles and furlongs' and insert 'kilometres'.61


Standing Order 55, line 3, leave out 'one inch to every 100 feet' and insert '1/1,250'.62


Standing Order 55, line 26, leave out 'five feet' and insert '1.5 metres'.63


Standing Order 56, line 6, leave out from beginning to end of line and insert 'metres or parts of a metre'.64


Standing Order 57, line 7, leave out from 'in' to 'at' in line 8 and insert--65

'metres or parts of a metre'.

Standing Order 57, line 30, leave out '800 yards' and insert '750 metres'.66


Standing Order 59, line 8, leave out 'one inch to every 330 feet' and insert '1/5,000'.67


Standing Order 59, line 9, leave out 'one inch to every 40 feet' and insert '1/500'.68


Standing Order 59, line 18, leave out '200 yards' and insert '180 metres'.69


Standing Order 61, line 17, leave out from 'or' to 'in' in line 18 and insert--70

'(in Wales) of every county or county borough or (in Scotland) of every local government area'.

Standing Order 61, line 32, leave out from 'or' to 'in' in line 33 and insert--71

'(in Wales) the county or county borough or (in Scotland) the local government area'.

Standing Order 61, line 49, at end add--72

'(4) This order shall apply to Greater London as if it were a county and the Greater London Authority were the council of the county.'.

Standing Order 62, line 15, leave out from 'or' to 'in' in line 16 and insert--73

'(in Wales) the county or county borough or (in Scotland) the local government area'.

Standing Order 62, line 94, at end insert--74

'(3) This order shall apply to Greater London as if it were a county.'

Standing Order 65, line 28, leave out from 'or' to 'in' in line 29 and insert--75

'(in Wales) the county or county borough or (in Scotland) the local government area'.

28 Feb 2001 : Column 887

Standing Order 69, line 3, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.76


Standing Order 81, line 10, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.77


Standing Order 82, line 2, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.78


Standing Order 84, line 4, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.79


Standing Order 86, line 5, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.80


Standing Order 87, line 6, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.81


Standing Order 88, line 6, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.82


Standing Order 89, line 5, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.83


Standing Order 89, line 7, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.84


Standing Order 97, line 1, leave out 'and Wales'.85


Standing Order 97, line 2, after 'borough' insert 'or county or county borough in Wales'.86


Standing Order 97, line 3, leave out 'or borough' and insert ', borough or county'.87


Standing Order 98, line 1, after 'county' insert--88

'or (in Wales) any county or county borough'.

Standing Order 98, line 2, leave out 'such county' and insert 'its administrative area'.89


Standing Order 98, line 5, leave out 'such county' and insert 'that area'.90


Standing Order 98, line 8, after 'borough' insert--91

'or (in Wales) any county or county borough'.

Standing Order 98, line 14, at end add--92

'(3) This order shall apply to Greater London as if it were a county and the Greater London Authority were the council of the county.'.

Standing Order 100, line 1, leave out from 'any' to 'against' in line 2 and insert--93

'drainage body within the meaning of the Land Drainage Act 1991 petitions'.

Standing Order 103, line 6, leave out from 'Selection' to '; three' in line 7.94


Standing Order 103, line 9, leave out from 'Mr' and insert 'the'.95


Standing Order 103, line 9, at end add--96

'(2) Unless the Committee of Selection otherwise orders, the members nominated to the committee shall continue to be members of the committee for the remainder of the Parliament.'.

Standing Order 120, line 9, leave out from 'declare,' to 'in' in line 10 and insert--97

'that I have no personal or constituency interest'.

Standing Order 123, line 8, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.98


Standing Order 132, line 5, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.99


Standing Order 136A, line 30, at end insert--100

'(5) This order shall apply to Greater London as if it were a county, the Greater London Authority were the council of the county and the councils of London boroughs were councils of districts in the county.'.

Standing Order 147, line 8, leave out 'Transport' and insert--101

'the Environment, Transport and the Regions'.

Standing Order 147, line 10, leave out 'Transport' and insert--102

'the Environment, Transport and the Regions'.

Standing Order 152, line 6, leave out 'fifteen inches' and insert '38 centimetres'.103


Standing Order 164, line 2, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.104


Standing Order 164, line 4, leave out 'written' and insert 'clearly set out'.105


Standing Order 175, line 3, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.106


Standing Order 181, line 9, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.107


Standing Order 182, line 2, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.108


Standing Order 191A, line 15, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.109

28 Feb 2001 : Column 888

Standing Order 204A, line 13, leave out 'Mr' and insert 'the'.110


Standing Order 209, line 9, at end insert--111

'(2) When the time for delivering notices, or making deposits, expires on a Saturday or Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or any bank holiday, the time shall be extended to the next day following which is not such a day'.

Standing Order 235, line 2, leave out 'Scottish' and insert 'Scotland'.112


Appendix A: Form referred to in Standing Orders 13 and 61


Page 125, leave out line 5 to line 66 on page 126 and insert--113


"Dear Sir or Madam,


[Short title of bill]


We [have applied] [intend to apply] to Parliament [this] [next] session for leave to introduce this bill.


We understand that you have an interest in the property mentioned in the Table set out below and that your interest is as stated in Part[s] I [and II] of that Table. If the bill is passed, the property mentioned in Part I of the Table, or a right to use it, will be liable to be acquired compulsorily under the powers of the resulting Act [and the property mentioned in Part II of the Table will be liable to the imposition of an improvement charge].


A plan [and section] relating to the purposes of the bill, together with a book of reference relating to it, [was] [were] [will be, on or before 20th November] deposited for public inspection with [here insert the officers of the local authorities with whom deposits have been or are to be made in accordance with Standing Order 27].


A copy of so much of the plan [and section] as relates to [here insert the parish or other area in accordance with Standing Order 36] in which the property in which you have an interest is situated, together with a book of reference relating to it, [has been] [will be on or before 20th November] deposited for public inspection with [here insert the officers of the local authorities with whom deposits have been or are to be made in accordance with Standing Order 36].


On that plan the property [is] [will be] designated by the number or numbers in the Table set out below. If that Table contains any error or misdescription, will you please let us know as soon as you can.


Copies of the bill, or the relevant parts of it, [have been] [will be on or before 4th December] deposited for public inspection and for sale at the [here insert the several offices at which deposits have been or are to be made in accordance with Standing Order 4A].


[We intend that the bill shall provide that, notwithstanding section 92 of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845, you may be required to sell and convey a part only of your property, numbered [here insert number of numbers] on the deposited plan.]


[We intend that the bill shall exclude section 92 of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845 and shall substitute for it a provision--

(a) restricting the power of acquiring compulsorily a part only of a house or building to cases where the part can be taken without material detriment to the house or building; and

(b) restricting the power of acquiring compulsorily a part only of a park or garden belonging to a house to cases where the part can be taken without seriously affecting the amenity or convenience of the house.]

You may object to the bill by depositing a petition against it. If you wish us to do so, we shall be glad to let you know the latest date on which you may deposit a petition in either House.


For the moment we can let you know that the latest date for depositing a petition against a bill is--

(a) in the first House, [here insert current date] in the case of the House of Lords, and [here insert current date] in the case of the House of Commons; and

(b) in the second House, the tenth day after that on which the bill receives its first reading in that House.

28 Feb 2001 : Column 889

In the case of a late bill, the rule in paragraph (b) above applies to a petition in either House. If the latest date turns out to be a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, a bank holiday or a day on which the House does not sit, the latest date may be postponed.


We enclose for your use copies of the standing orders of both Houses of Parliament relating to the time and method for presenting petitions in opposition to bills.


If you need any further information, or any help in preparing a petition, you should get in touch with the Private Bill Office in either House (telephone number 020 7219 3231 in the House of Lords and 020 7219 3250 in the House of Commons).


Yours faithfully,"


--[The Chairman of Ways and Means.]

Message to the Lords to acquaint them therewith.

Ordered,

That the following Standing Order be made:--

"Consents required under the Greater London Authority Act 1999.

25A.--(1) In the case of a bill promoted by the Greater London Authority, Transport for London or the London Development Agency there shall be deposited in the Private Bill Office on or before 27th November the following documents, as appropriate, namely--

(a) where the relevant consent provision applies to the bill, copies of the pre-deposit consents;

(b) where the relevant consent provision does not apply, a statement to that effect.

(2) The relevant consent provision for the purposes of paragraph (1) above is--

(a) in the case of a bill promoted by the Greater London Authority, paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 ("the 1999 Act");

(b) in the case of a bill promoted by Transport for London, paragraph 5 of Schedule 13 to the 1999 Act;

(c) in the case of a bill promoted by the London Development Agency, paragraph 5 of Schedule 6A to the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 ("the 1998 Act") (as inserted by Schedule 25 to the 1999 Act).

(3) In the case of a bill promoted by the council of a London borough, Transport for London or the London Development Corporation there shall be deposited in the Private Bill Office on 11th December or as soon as practicable thereafter the following documents, as appropriate, namely--

(a) where the relevant consent provision applies to the bill--

(i) copies of the pre-deposit consents and post-deposit confirmations of consents; or

(ii) if confirmation of consent has not been given, a statement that the relevant withdrawal provision applies; or

(iii) if confirmation of consent is given conditionally on the amendment of the bill, a statement that the relevant amendment provision applies;

(b) where the relevant consent provision does not apply, a statement to that effect.

Paragraph (a)(ii) does not apply to a bill promoted by the council of a London borough. In this paragraph "pre-deposit consent" includes a consent given in accordance with the relevant consent provision after deposit of the bill.

(4) The relevant consent provision for the purposes of paragraph (3) above is--

(a) in the case of a bill promoted by the council of a London borough, section 79(2) of the 1999 Act;

(b) in the case of a bill promoted by Transport for London, section 167(2) of the 1999 Act;

(c) in the case of a bill promoted by the London Development Agency, section 26A(2) of the 1998 Act.

28 Feb 2001 : Column 890

(5) The relevant withdrawal provision for the purposes of paragraph (3) above is--

(a) in the case of a bill promoted by Transport for London, section 167(3) of the 1999 Act;

(b) in the case of a bill promoted by the London Development Agency, section 26A(3) of the 1998 Act.

(6) The relevant amendment provision for the purposes of paragraph (3) above is--

(a) in the case of a bill promoted by the council of a London borough, section 79(4) of the 1999 Act;

(b) in the case of a bill promoted by Transport for London, section 167(4) of the 1999 Act;

(c) in the case of a bill promoted by the London Development Agency, section 26A(4) of the 1998 Act.".--[The Chairman of Ways and Means.]

Oral Answers to Questions

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