| Session 2001-2002 |
| Commons Journal 258
Chronological Index
Page 139 2001-2002 Volume 258 [No. 34.] Monday 22nd October 2001. The House met at half-past Two o'clock. PRAYERS.
Barclays Group Reorganisation Bill [Lords] National Australia Group Europe Bill [Lords]. Bills to be read a second time.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
A Clause (Rough sleepers)—(Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn. Another Clause (Accommodation during reviews of homelessness decisions)— (Mr Don Foster)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn. Another Clause (Co-operation between registered social landlords and local housing authorities)—(Mr Don Foster)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn. Amendment (No. 1) proposed to the Bill, in page 1, line 3, after the word ‘authority”)', to insert the words ‘and its strategic partners, to include registered social landlords and housing co-operatives, landlords of houses in multiple occupation registered with the authority under the Housing Act 1996, members of landlords' forums, and voluntary organisations and other relevant bodies (”strategic partners”)'.—(Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.) Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendments (Nos. 22 to 25) made to the Bill. The Bill was read the third time, and passed.
And the Motion having been made at Ten o'clock, and the Debate having continued for half an hour, the Speaker adjourned the House, without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order, till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 10.30 p.m. Page 140 Monday 22nd October 2001 2001-2002 Volume 258 Back to top APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
(2) Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (No. 10) Regulations 2001 (S.I., 2001, No. 3451), dated 22nd October [by Act] [Secretary Margaret Beckett].
(2) Education (School Performance Information) (England) Regulations 2001 (S.I., 2001, No. 3446), dated 22nd October 2001 [by Act] [Secretary Estelle Morris].
Other Papers:
(1) CFBT/Lambeth Education Action Zone, (2) Easington and Seaham Education Action Zone, (3) Halifax Education Action Zone, (4) Middlesbrough Education Action Zone, (5) Newham Education Action Zone, (6) Nottingham Education Action Zone, (7) Southend Education Action Zone, (8) Thetford Education Action Zone, and (9) Wednesbury Education Action Zone for 1999–2000, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 258, 277, 259, 256, 257, 279, 261, 260 and 278] [Clerk of the House]. APPENDIX II Standing Committees
Page 141 Monday 22nd October 2001 2001-2002 Volume 258 Back to top APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
[No. 35.] Tuesday 23rd October 2001. The House met at half-past Two o'clock. PRAYERS.
We, the Right Honourable Sir Douglas Robert Carswell, Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, and the Right Honourable Sir William Paschal McCollum, one of Her Majesty's Lord Justices of Appeal in Northern Ireland, being the judges selected pursuant to section 108(1) of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 and section 123 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 to be the judges for the trial of parliamentary election petitions, do hereby certify, pursuant to section 144(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1983, that Michelle Gildernew, being the Member whose election was complained of in the petition presented by James Leslie Cooper on 27th June 2001, was duly elected. Dated this 19th day of October 2001. And the said Certificate was ordered to be entered in the Journals of the House.
Bill, not amended in the Standing Committee, to be considered to-morrow. Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to be printed [No. 301].
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
Conduct of Ministers in the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House deplores the culture of spin in the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions; condemns the attitude and advice of the Special Adviser to the Secretary of State, Ms Jo Moore, and Ministers who acted upon her advice, thus perpetuating that Page 142 Tuesday 23rd October 2001 2001-2002 Volume 258 Back to top culture throughout Government; agrees with the Chairman of the Public Administration Committee that Ms Moore's e-mail of 11th September was ‘incompatible with any idea of public service'; believes that as long as Ms Moore retains the confidence of Ministers, she brings Her Majesty's Government into disrepute; and calls on the Secretary of State to dismiss her forthwith—(Mrs Theresa May); 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 ‘believes that Ms Jo Moore's e-mail of 11th September was horrible, wrong and stupid; notes that she has been dealt with under the Department's disciplinary procedures and that the Permanent Secretary has given her an official warning as to her conduct and that she has expressed her heartfelt regret and offered a full apology; welcomes the decisive action that Ministers have taken in regard to Railtrack which will be welcomed by the travelling public; rejects the policies of the Opposition, who would have continued to pour money into propping up the company, thus amplifying the problems caused by the way they privatised the rail industry; and further welcomes the work of DTLR ministers in developing positive policies, to improve the position of local government, to tackle problems of homelessness and urban regeneration and to develop proposals for regional government and contrasts this with the policies of the Opposition who decimated local government, ignored the problems of deprived communities and centralised power', instead thereof.—(Mr Secretary Byers.) And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mrs Cheryl Gillan, Dr Julian Lewis: 167. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Tony McNulty, Angela Smith: 340. 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, Angela Smith, Mr Tony McNulty: 342. Tellers for the Noes, Mrs Cheryl Gillan, Dr Julian Lewis: 205. So the Question was agreed to. The Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to. Resolved, That this House believes that Ms Jo Moore's e-mail of 11th September was horrible, wrong and stupid; notes that she has been dealt with under the Department's disciplinary procedures and that the Permanent Secretary has given her an official warning as to her conduct and that she has expressed her heartfelt regret and offered a full apology; welcomes the decisive action that Ministers have taken in regard to Railtrack which will be welcomed by the travelling public; rejects the policies of the Opposition, who would have continued to pour money into propping up the company, thus amplifying the problems caused by the way they privatised the rail industry; and further welcomes the work of DTLR ministers in developing positive policies, to improve the position of local government, to tackle problems of homelessness and urban regeneration and to develop proposals for regional government and contrasts this with the policies of the Opposition who decimated local government, ignored the problems of deprived communities and centralised power.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till four minutes to Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 10.56 p.m. Page 143 Tuesday 23rd October 2001 2001-2002 Volume 258 Back to top APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 (Specified Organisations) Order 2001 (S.I., 2001, No. 3411) [by Standing Order] [The Speaker]. APPENDIX II Reports from Select Committees
(2) Memoranda laid before the Committee [The Government's drugs policy: is it working?]; to be printed [No. 303-II] [Mr Chris Mullin]. Page 144 Tuesday 23rd October 2001 2001-2002 Volume 258 Back to top
[No. 35; WH, No. 14.] Tuesday 23rd October 2001. The House sitting in Westminster Hall [pursuant to Order of 20th November 2000]. The sitting commenced at half-past Nine o'clock.
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 1.59 p.m. [No. 36.] Wednesday 24th October 2001. The House met at half-past Two o'clock. PRAYERS.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
And the Motion being opposed, after a brief explanatory statement from the Member who made the Motion and from a Member who opposed it, the Deputy Speaker put the Question, pursuant to Standing Order No. 23 (Motions for leave to bring in bills and nomination of select committees at commencement of public business). The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Dr Evan Harris, Chris McCafferty: 179. Tellers for the Noes, Mrs Marion Roe, Mr Andrew Rosindell: 59. Page 145 Wednesday 24th October 2001 2001-2002 Volume 258 Back to top So the Question was agreed to. Ordered, That Jane Griffiths, Dr Evan Harris, Mr Simon Thomas, Chris McCafferty, Mr Chris Smith, Glenda Jackson, Mr David Lepper, Dr Phyllis Starkey and Dr Nick Palmer do prepare and bring in the Bill.
Committal 1. The Bill shall be committed to a Standing Committee. Programming of proceedings 2. All proceedings on the Bill (including any proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments or any further messages from the Lords) shall be programmed. Proceedings in Standing Committee 3.—(1) Proceedings in the Standing Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Thursday 8th November 2001. (2) The Standing Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on which it meets. Consideration and Third Reading 4.—(1) Proceedings on consideration and Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion three hours after their commencement. (2) Sessional Order B (programming committees) made by the House on 28th June 2001 shall not apply to proceedings on consideration and Third Reading—(Mrs Anne McGuire); The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mrs Anne McGuire, Mr Fraser Kemp: 322. Tellers for the Noes, Mr David Wilshire, Mr Charles Hendry: 70. So the Question was agreed to.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty-one minutes to Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 10.39 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
(2) draft Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Modification) Order 2001 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett]. Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
(2) Race Relations Act 1976 (Statutory Duties) Order 2001 (S.I., 2001, No. 3458) dated 23rd October 2001 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett]. Page 146 Wednesday 24th October 2001 2001-2002 Volume 258 Back to top Other Papers:
(2) Report and Summary Financial Statement of the Community Fund for 2000–01 [by Act] [Secretary Tessa Jowell].
(1) Leicester Education Action Zone, (2) Wakefield Education Action Zone, and (3) Withernsea Education Action Zone for 1999–2000, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 294, 293 and 295] [Clerk of the House].
APPENDIX II Standing Committees
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations to the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mrs Marion Roe Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Vera Baird, Mr Gregory Barker, Mr John Baron, Ms Karen Buck, Dr Vincent Cable, Brian Cotter, Mr Charles Hendry, Kate Hoey, Helen Jackson, Miss Melanie Johnson, Andrew Mackinlay, Mr Andrew Miller, Mr Ian Pearson, Phil Sawford, Mr Brian Sedgemore and Mr Nigel Waterson.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Second 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 Crispin Blunt, Mr Jonathan Djanogly, Mr Mark Field, Mr John Hayes, Jane Kennedy, Mr David Kidney, Shona McIsaac, Ms Meg Munn, Lembit Opik, Syd Rapson, Chris Ruane, Mr Graham Stringer, Mr David Trimble, Dr Desmond Turner, David Winnick and Derek Wyatt.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations and draft Order to the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr Mike Hancock Chairman; and Page 147 Wednesday 24th October 2001 2001-2002 Volume 258 Back to top (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Nick Ainger, Mr Colin Breed, Mr Michael Clapham, Mr Adrian Flook, Barbara Follett, Mrs Cheryl Gillan, Mr Paul Goodman, Mr David Heyes, Mr Lindsay Hoyle, Ian Lucas, Chris McCafferty, Alice Mahon, Mr Elliot Morley, Mr Terry Rooney, Mr Keith Simpson and Mr Roger Williams.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr Edward O'Hara Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Bob Ainsworth, Mr Richard Allan, Mr Graham Allen, Mr Peter Atkinson, Mr David Cameron, Jim Dobbin, Mr Mark Francois, David Hamilton, Mr Nick Hawkins, Simon Hughes, Mrs Anne McGuire, Mr Denis Murphy, Mr Gordon Prentice, Dr Howard Stoate, Mr Mark Todd and Mr Mike Wood.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr Jimmy Hood Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Crispin Blunt, Mr Barry Gardiner, Mr John Hayes, Mr Mark Hendrick, Mr Mark Hoban, Mr Kelvin Hopkins, Mr Brian Jenkins, Jane Kennedy, Mr Stephen McCabe, Shona McIsaac, Lembit Opik, Mr Ernie Ross, Andrew Selous, Dr Gavin Strang, Mr Graham Stringer and Mr David Trimble.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Order to the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr Mike Hancock Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Crispin Blunt, Mr Russell Brown, Mr Michael Connarty, Mr Bill Etherington, Mr George Galloway, Mr John Hayes, Lady Hermon, Mr Mark Hoban, Mr Kevan Jones, Jane Kennedy, Shona McIsaac, Lembit Opik, Christine Russell, Andrew Selous, Mr Alan Simpson and Mr Graham Stringer.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Orders to the Seventh Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr David Amess Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mrs Patsy Calton, Mr Ivor Caplin, Geraint Davies, Julia Drown, Caroline Flint, Andrew George, Peter Hain, Mr Dai Havard, Mr Eric Joyce, Rob Marris, Mr George Mudie, Mr John Randall, Mr Mohammad Sarwar, Mr Richard Spring, Angela Watkinson and Mr Bill Wiggin.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Scheme to the Eighth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr Joe Benton Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Nick Ainger, Andrew George, Mrs Cheryl Gillan, Mr Kevin Hughes, Fiona Mactaggart, Mr Peter Mandelson, Mr Austin Mitchell, Mr Elliot Morley, Mr Terry Rooney, Mr Malcolm Savidge, Mr Mark Simmonds, Mr Keith Simpson, Mr Hugo Swire, Mark Tami, Paddy Tipping and Richard Younger-Ross.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Ninth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr Derek Conway Chairman; and Page 148 Wednesday 24th October 2001 2001-2002 Volume 258 Back to top (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee, viz.: Mr Richard Allan, John Austin, Hilary Benn, Mr Frank Dobson, Mr Roger Godsiff, Mr Nick Hawkins, Dr Julian Lewis, Mr Calum Macdonald, Dan Norris, Diana Organ, Mr Mark Prisk, Mr Andrew Rosindell, Mr Paul Stinchcombe, Dr Jenny Tonge, Jon Trickett and Mr Dennis Turner.
Private Business
APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
(2) A Memorandum laid before the Committee concerning the activities of an estate agent in the Manchester area; to be printed [No. 240-III] [Andrew Bennett]; and (3) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Transport Sub-Committee of the Committee [Passenger Rail Franchising and the Future of Railway Infrastructure]; to be printed [No. 239-ii] [Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody].
Page 149 Wednesday 24th October 2001 2001-2002 Volume 258 Back to top [No. 36; WH, No. 15.] Wednesday 24th October 2001. The House sitting in Westminster Hall [pursuant to Order of 20th November 2000]. The sitting commenced at half-past Nine o'clock.
And it being Two o'clock, the sitting was adjourned without Question put, till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 2 p.m. [No. 37.] Thursday 25th October 2001. The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock. PRAYERS.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
International Development Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill to make provision relating to the provision of assistance for countries outside the United Kingdom; to make provision with respect to certain international financial institutions and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission; and for connected purposes; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House. Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill to amend the law relating to the age at which certain persons become eligible to receive travel concessions on journeys on public passenger transport services; and for connected purposes; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.
Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the International Development Bill [Lords] be printed [Bill 37–EN].
Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Bill [Lords] be printed [Bill 38–EN].
Student Finance,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House believes that the best possible education of its citizens is both a principal duty of, and an immeasurable benefit to, any civilised society, and therefore deplores the rising levels of student debt and the resulting disincentive to continue in education post-school; condemns the failure of the Government to invest in Higher Education all the extra resources provided by the abolition of maintenance grants and the introduction of tuition fees; regrets that the conclusions drawn from reviews of student finance in Scotland and Wales have been ignored in Westminster; congratulates the Scottish Executive on abolishing tuition fees and restoring grants for students from low income backgrounds; believes that part-time students and students in Further Education should be treated fairly in comparison with full-time students in Higher Education; notes the recent decision by the Government to review student finance more widely; and calls upon the Government to abolish tuition fees in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and to put in place a fully funded support system, which will encourage more students, particularly those from low income backgrounds, to go into higher education—(Mr David Rendel); Page 150 Thursday 25th October 2001 2001-2002 Volume 258 Back to top 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 ‘welcomes the approach the Government has taken to higher education since 1997, particularly the extra investment the Government is making in Higher Education, meaning an extra £1.7 billion of publicly planned funding in the six years to 2003–04; further welcomes the Government's commitment to widening participation so that half of under-30 year olds will benefit from the opportunities of higher education by the end of the decade; supports the Government's reforms of student support, introduced in 1998, which have increased the resources available to higher education establishments; agrees with the principle, underlying these reforms, that those who benefit from the considerable advantages that higher education can offer are asked to contribute when they can afford to; recognises that the Government has always been committed to monitor and to review the impact of these reforms; and further welcomes the Secretary of State for Education and Skills' recent announcement of this review', instead thereof.—(Margaret Hodge.) And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Andrew Stunell, Tom Brake: 42. Tellers for the Noes, Dan Norris, Mr Graham Stringer: 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 welcomes the approach the Government has taken to higher education since 1997, particularly the extra investment the Government is making in Higher Education, meaning an extra £1.7 billion of publicly planned funding in the six years to 2003–04; further welcomes the Government's commitment to widening participation so that half of under-30 year olds will benefit from the opportunities of higher education by the end of the decade; supports the Government's reforms of student support, introduced in 1998, which have increased the resources available to higher education establishments; agrees with the principle, underlying these reforms, that those who benefit from the considerable advantages that higher education can offer are asked to contribute when they can afford to; recognises that the Government has always been committed to monitor and to review the impact of these reforms; and further welcomes the Secretary of State for Education and Skills' recent announcement of this review.
And it being one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion, the Deputy Speaker put the Question, pursuant to Standing Order No. 16 (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents); The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Andrew Stunell, Mr Nigel Jones: 38. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Ivor Caplin, Mr John Heppell: 302. So the Question was negatived.
And it being one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion, the Deputy Speaker put the Question, pursuant to Standing Order No. 16 (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents):—It was agreed to. Resolved, That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 14174/00, a draft Council regulation laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food; and supports the Government's objective of the introduction of effective arrangements to re-establish and maintain consumer confidence in the regulation of food safety at European Union level. Page 151 Thursday 25th October 2001 2001-2002 Volume 258 Back to top
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till eight minutes to Eight o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 7.52 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
(1) Modern Policy-Making: Ensuring Policies Deliver Value for Money, and (2) Non-Competitive Procurement in the Ministry of Defence [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 289 and 290] [Clerk of the House]. APPENDIX II Standing Committees
APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
Page 152 Thursday 25th October 2001 2001-2002 Volume 258 Back to top [No. 37; WH, No. 16.] Thursday 25th October 2001. The House sitting in Westminster Hall [pursuant to Order of 20th November 2000]. The sitting commenced at half-past Two o'clock.
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till Tuesday 30th October. [Adjourned at 5.41 p.m. [No. 38.] Friday 26th October 2001. The House met at half-past Nine o'clock. PRAYERS.
And a Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, That the Bill be now read a second time; And it being Eleven o'clock, the Speaker interrupted the proceedings pursuant to Standing Order No. 11 (Friday sittings). And the Question being again proposed; And the Question being put:—It was agreed to. The Bill was accordingly read a second time and stood committed to a Standing Committee.
And a Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, That the Bill be now read a second time; And it being half-past Two o'clock, the Debate stood adjourned. Ordered, That the Debate be resumed on Friday 25th January.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till two minutes to Three o'clock, adjourned till Monday 29th October. [Adjourned at 2.58 p.m. APPENDIX Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Other Papers:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
