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14 Apr 2003 : Column 775—continued
(a) the deduction from money or securities for money collected or received for or on account of value added tax of sums required by the department of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise for making payments pursuant to Article 9e of Council Regulation 218/92/EEC as inserted by Council Regulation 792/2002/EC;
(b) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of such amounts as are required by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to make payments under provisions of that Act relating to charities;
(c) any increase, attributable to any provisions of the Act relating to Schedule 20 to the Finance Act 2000, in the sums deducted from the gross revenues of the department of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for the purpose of the payment of R&D tax credits;
any increase, attributable to any provisions of the Act relating to Schedule 13 to the Finance Act 2002, in the sums deducted from the gross revenues of the department of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for the purpose of the payment of tax credits under that Schedule.
Bill ordered to be brought in upon the foregoing resolutions: And that the Chairman of Ways and Means, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Secretary Prescott, Mr. Secretary Blunkett, Mr. Secretary Milburn, Mr. Secretary Smith, Ms Secretary Hewitt, Mr. Secretary Clarke, Mr. Paul Boateng, Ruth Kelly, John Healey and Dawn Primarolo.
Finance Bill
Dawn Primarolo according presented a Bill to grant certain duties, to alter other duties, and to amend the law relating to the National Debt and the Public Revenue, and to make further provision in connection with Finance: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time on Monday 28th April, and to be printed [Bill 94].
DELEGATED LEGISLATION
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Michael Lord): I propose to put together the Questions on motions 3 and 4.
- Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118(6) (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation),
Electricity
- That the draft Electricity and Gas (Energy Efficiency Obligations) (Amendment) order 2003, which was laid before this House on 13th March, be approved.
Local Government Finance
- That the Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 117) (HC537) on 2003-04 Special Grant for Driving Local Authority Planning Performance, which was laid before this House on 20th March, be approved.—[Derek Twigg.]
Regulatory Reform
Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118(6) (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation),
- That the draft Regulatory Reform (Sugar Beet) Research and Education) Order 2003, which was laid before this House on 17th March be approved—[Derek Twigg.]
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY DOCUMENTS
Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 119(9) (European Standing Committees),
Security Of Energy Supply
- That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 12228/02 Commission Communication, draft Directives and draft Council Decision relating to security of energy supply; and supports the Government's aim of securing practical and proportionate legislation which takes into account the Government's international obligations in the petroleum sector and contributes to the security of gas supplies within the context of a single energy market.—[Derek Twigg.]
Point of Order
11.41 pm
Mr. Crispin Blunt (Reigate): On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. You will be aware that today is the last sitting day before Mr. Laurence Kaye, who has served for 26 years in the Table Office and for more than 40 years in the service of the House, retires. Through you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I wish to thank my constituent for all the service that he has given to all of us in the House. I thank also the Members of the House, over half of whom have signed early-day motion 954, thanking Mr. Kaye for his service and wishing him a happy retirement.
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Michael Lord): Obviously, that is not a point of order for the Chair. However, the House has heard the hon. Gentleman's kind words and they are now a matter of record for the House.
PETITIONS
Pharmacies
11.42 pm
Mr. Hugh Bayley (City of York): More than 5,000 of my constituents have signed a petition expressing concern that local pharmacies in York might be caused to close if the Government were to implement the recommendation of the Office of Fair Trading to allow pharmacies to open without approval from NHS authorities. The petition is signed by Susan Hargrave, a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, and many others, and reads as follows:
- To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.
The Humble Petition of Residents of York sheweth that they wish to preserve local pharmacies and safeguard their continued services to local communities. Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House urges the Government to reject the proposals of the Office of Fair Trading that would allow unrestricted opening of pharmacies able to dispense NHS prescriptions.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
11.43 pm
Mrs. Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton): My petition, on behalf of my constituents, is also on the subject of pharmacies. I have a large rural constituency of about 600 square miles. The pharmacists have gathered signatures from the towns in and around Cullompton, Honiton, Crediton, Tiverton, Bampton and Ottery St. Mary.
The Control of Entry Regulations which were introduced in 1987 would be revoked if the recommendations of the Office of Fair Trading report were to be accepted by the Government. My constituents send a petition to the House of Commons on behalf of pharmacists and their customers in the Tiverton and Honiton constituency.
- the Office of Fair Trading Report on pharmacies would threaten the future of their local services and urges the Government to reject the proposals that would allow unrestricted opening of pharmacies able to dispense NHS prescriptions, and to preserve local pharmacies and safeguard their continued services to local communities.
And the Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons takes whatever action it can to block the proposals.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
11.45 pm
Mr. James Gray (North Wiltshire): I, too, have the honour to present a petition on behalf of constituents who are extremely concerned about the effect of the Office of Fair Trading report on local pharmacies. The 1,778 people who have signed this petition all come from the town of Wootton Bassett or its surrounding area, and they are customers of C.M.L. Jones and Partner, the main pharmacist in the high street of Wootton Bassett. The petition states:
- The petition of Residents of Wootton Bassett, particularly of CML Jones and Partner, Pharmacists of Wootton Bassett, their customers and others
Declares that the proposals made by the Office of Fair Trading allowing the unrestricted opening of pharmacies able to dispense NHS prescriptions will precipitate chaotic changes to the distribution of pharmaceutical services; lead to less convenient access for many patients, particularly the elderly and those without transport and have a detrimental impact on the contribution made to primary care services by community pharmacies.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to reject the proposals made by the OFT for the unrestricted opening of pharmacies.
And the petitioners remain etc.
Train Services (Thanet)
11.46 pm
Dr. Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet): Important as community pharmacies are, you will be pleased to know, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that my petition is on a different subject. Today is the end of the Strategic Rail Authority's consultation on the use of channel tunnel rail link domestic services. It has been collected by Thanet Labour party people, who agree with me that a fast train service between Thanet and London is vital. It states:
- To the honourable Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled
The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of Thanet Sheweth
That the establishment of a fast train service between Thanet and London is essential for the economic regeneration of Thanet
That the Thanet Towns to London via Canterbury route identified by the Strategic Rail Authority in its consultation paper on Channel Tunnel Domestic Services is the cheapest of the proposed options other than the 'core service' option and its additional cost would be easily recouped by savings generated by reducing unemployment in the District
That such a service could begin at Margate calling at Broadstairs and Ramsgate, running at high speed after Ramsgate to Canterbury West, Ashford and London and thereby serve all the people of Thanet without the need to build new stations
That a fast train service between Ramsgate and London could also be established cost effectively using existing rail routes as an alternative to using the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honourable House shall urge the Secretary of State for Transport to ensure that a fast rail service between Thanet and London is established at the latest from the start of the new Kent franchise in 2007
And your petitioners, as duty bound, will ever pray, etc.
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