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John Cryer (Hornchurch) (Lab): To return from planet Zarg where we have spent the past 10 minutes, the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Rosindell) failed to mention one aspect of his Bill. The motion states:

"That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make St. George's Day a public holiday in England in place of the May Day public holiday."

[Hon. Members: "Ah!"] Judging from their reaction, I suspect that that bothers my hon. Friends and, I believe, other hon. Members. It will be interesting to see whether, in the Division that will follow, Tory Front Benchers will go into the Aye Lobby to attack the labour movement and working people, or whether they will join us in the No Lobby. May day is part of the history of the labour movement, the Labour party and trade unions. The public holiday was introduced by the 1974–79 Labour Government, but it was always an aspiration of the labour and trade union movement to have a May day holiday in the years when miners were being slaughtered by the hundreds in work, and when there was a battle for improved working terms and conditions. Although it was not fundamental to people's lives, it was always a dream to have such a holiday.

May day also has religious connotations, and is a celebration of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph the worker—[Interruption.] I can see that that reference has gone down well among the Tories, as it always does. The Bill is an attack on working people, and the dreams and aspirations of the labour movement, which has been in existence for more than 100 years. In fact, the ambition to make May day a bank holiday predates the foundation of the labour and trade union movement, and is something that many Labour Members would defend as long as we have breath in our bodies. Finally, I was born into the labour movement and I intend to die in it, although not just yet. This is an over-my-dead-body issue, and I will defend May day as long as I live and breathe.

Question put, 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: Ayes 83, Noes 112.

Division No. 285 [12:47 pm


AYES

Atkinson, Peter (Hexham)
Barker, Gregory
Beggs, Roy (E Antrim)
Blunt, Crispin
Bottomley, Peter (Worthing W)
Brazier, Julian
Butterfill, Sir John
Campbell, Gregory (E Lond'y)
Cash, William
Chapman, Sir Sydney (Chipping Barnet)
Chope, Christopher
Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey
Conway, Derek
Djanogly, Jonathan
Dodds, Nigel
Donaldson, Jeffrey M.
Evans, Nigel
Fabricant, Michael
Field, Mark (Cities of London & Westminster)
Flight, Howard
Flook, Adrian
Forth, rh Eric
Foster, Don (Bath)
Francois, Mark
Gillan, Mrs Cheryl
Goodman, Paul
Gray, James (N Wilts)
Grieve, Dominic
Hague, rh William
Hammond, Philip
Hawkins, Nick
Hayes, John (S Holland)
Heathcoat-Amory, rh David
Horam, John (Orpington)
Howarth, Gerald (Aldershot)
Hunter, Andrew
Jenkin, Bernard
Knight, rh Greg (E Yorkshire)
Leigh, Edward
Lidington, David
Lilley, rh Peter
Llwyd, Elfyn
Luff, Peter (M-Worcs)
Mackay, rh Andrew
McLoughlin, Patrick
Malins, Humfrey
Mates, Michael
Mawhinney, rh Sir Brian
Mercer, Patrick
Moss, Malcolm
Murrison, Dr. Andrew
Ottaway, Richard
Paisley, Rev. Ian
Paterson, Owen
Pickles, Eric
Randall, John
Robertson, Hugh (Faversham & M-Kent)
Robertson, Laurence (Tewk'b'ry)
Robinson, Peter (Belfast E)
Rosindell, Andrew
Ruffley, David
Russell, Bob (Colchester)
Sanders, Adrian
Sayeed, Jonathan
Selous, Andrew
Shepherd, Richard
Simpson, Keith (M-Norfolk)
Smyth, Rev. Martin (Belfast S)
Stinchcombe, Paul
Swire, Hugo (E Devon)
Syms, Robert
Taylor, David (NW Leics)
Taylor, Ian (Esher)
Taylor, John (Solihull)
Taylor, Matthew (Truro)
Taylor, Sir Teddy
Tyrie, Andrew
Viggers, Peter
Whittingdale, John
Wiggin, Bill
Wilkinson, John
Wilshire, David
Winterton, Sir Nicholas (Macclesfield)

Tellers for the Ayes:

Bob Spink and
Mrs. Angela Browning


NOES

Allen, Graham
Atherton, Ms Candy
Baker, Norman
Barron, rh Kevin
Bennett, Andrew
Berry, Roger
Best, Harold
Brake, Tom (Carshalton)
Brennan, Kevin
Bruce, Malcolm
Burden, Richard
Byrne, Liam (B'ham Hodge H)
Carmichael, Alistair
Casale, Roger
Caton, Martin
Chaytor, David
Clapham, Michael
Clarke, rh Tom (Coatbridge & Chryston)
Cook, rh Robin (Livingston)
Cranston, Ross
Curtis-Thomas, Mrs Claire
Davey, Valerie (Bristol W)
Davidson, Ian
Dean, Mrs Janet
Dhanda, Parmjit
Dismore, Andrew
Dobbin, Jim (Heywood)
Donohoe, Brian H.
Drown, Ms Julia
Eagle, Angela (Wallasey)
Edwards, Huw
Ellman, Mrs Louise
Ennis, Jeff (Barnsley E)
Gapes, Mike (Ilford S)
George, Andrew (St. Ives)
Gerrard, Neil
Gilroy, Linda
Griffiths, Jane (Reading E)
Hamilton, David (Midlothian)
Hancock, Mike
Harman, rh Ms Harriet
Harris, Dr. Evan (Oxford W & Abingdon)
Hermon, Lady
Hinchliffe, David
Holmes, Paul
Howarth, George (Knowsley N & Sefton E)
Humble, Mrs Joan
Iddon, Dr. Brian
Illsley, Eric
Jackson, Helen (Hillsborough)
Jenkins, Brian
Jones, Kevan (N Durham)
King, Andy (Rugby)
Lazarowicz, Mark
Levitt, Tom (High Peak)
Liddell, rh Mrs Helen
Luke, Iain (Dundee E)
McFall, rh John
McKechin, Ann
Mackinlay, Andrew
Mallaber, Judy
Marris, Rob (Wolverh'ton SW)
Marshall, David (Glasgow Shettleston)
Mole, Chris
Morgan, Julie
Mudie, George
Naysmith, Dr. Doug
O'Brien, Bill (Normanton)
O'Neill, Martin
Organ, Diana
Perham, Linda
Picking, Anne
Pickthall, Colin
Pike, Peter (Burnley)
Plaskitt, James
Pollard, Kerry
Pope, Greg (Hyndburn)
Pound, Stephen
Price, Adam (E Carmarthen & Dinefwr)
Purchase, Ken
Reid, Alan (Argyll & Bute)
Robertson, John (Glasgow Anniesland)
Roche, Mrs Barbara
Roy, Frank (Motherwell)
Salter, Martin
Savidge, Malcolm
Sedgemore, Brian
Sheridan, Jim
Simon, Siôn (B'ham Erdington)
Simpson, Alan (Nottingham S)
Skinner, Dennis
Smith, Sir Robert (W Ab'd'ns & Kincardine)
Starkey, Dr. Phyllis
Stoate, Dr. Howard
Strang, rh Dr. Gavin
Stunell, Andrew
Tami, Mark (Alyn)
Taylor, rh Ann (Dewsbury)
Taylor, David (NW Leics)
Tipping, Paddy
Trickett, Jon
Tyler, Paul (N Cornwall)
Tynan, Bill (Hamilton S)
Wareing, Robert N.
Weir, Michael
Whitehead, Dr. Alan
Williams, Betty (Conwy)
Williams, Hywel (Caernarfon)
Winnick, David
Woodward, Shaun
Wright, Anthony D. (Gt Yarmouth)
Younger-Ross, Richard

Tellers for the Noes:

Chris Bryant and
John Cryer


Question accordingly negatived.

 
27 Oct 2004 : Column 1439
 

 
27 Oct 2004 : Column 1440
 

Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill [Lords] (Programme) (No.2)

1 pm

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Paul Goggins): I beg to move,

That the programme order of 14th June 2004 in relation to the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill [Lords] be varied as follows—

Consideration and Third Reading

1. Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Order shall be omitted.

2. Proceedings on consideration shall be taken in the order shown in the first column of the following Table.

3. The proceedings shown in the first column of the Table shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the time specified in the second column of the Table.

TABLE

Proceedings	Time for conclusion of proceedings
New Clauses, New Schedules and amendments to Clauses 1 to 15.	Two and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion for this Order.
Amendments to Clauses 16 to 21 and Schedule 1.	Four and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion for this Order.
Amendments to Clauses 22 to 24, Schedule 2, Clauses 25 and 26, Schedule 3, Clause 27, Schedule 4, Clauses 28 and 29, Schedule 5, Clauses 30 and 31, Schedule 6, Clauses 32 to 41, Schedule 7, Clause 42, Schedule 8, Clauses 43 to 47, Schedule 9, Clauses 48 to 52, Schedules 10 and 11, Clause 53, Schedule 12, Clauses 54 to 57 and remaining proceedings on the Bill.	Five and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion for this Order.

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