| Session 2003-2004 |
| Commons Journal 260
Chronological Index
Page 350 2003-2004 Volume 260 [No. 92.] Monday 24th May 2004. The House met at half-past Two o'clock. PRAYERS.
A Clause (NC11) (Scotland: cross-border collaboration)—(Ms Hazel Blears)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill. Another Clause (NC1) (Emergency Volunteer Reserve)—(Patrick Mercer)—brought up, and read the first time. Question put, That the Clause be read a second time. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Hugh Robertson, Mr Mark Francois: 141. Tellers for the Noes, Joan Ryan, Mr Nick Ainger: 283. Another Clause (NC2) (Emergency Public Education and Training Board)—(Patrick Mercer)—brought up, and read the first time. Question put, That the Clause be read a second time. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Hugh Robertson, Mr Mark Francois: 112. Tellers for the Noes, Mr John Heppell, Mr Jim Murphy: 306. Another Clause (NC3) (Emergency Powers Committee)—(Mr Oliver Heald)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time. And it being Nine o'clock, the Deputy Speaker put the Question, pursuant to Order [19th January]. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Hugh Robertson, Mr Mark Francois: 136. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Jim Murphy, Mr John Heppell: 278. The Deputy Speaker then put forthwith the Question on the Amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown. Amendments (Nos. 78 to 99) made to the Bill. A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be now read the third time; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Jim Murphy, Mr John Heppell: 271. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Richard Shepherd, Mr Douglas Hogg: 0. So the Question was agreed to. The Bill was accordingly read the third time, and passed.
Page 351 Monday 24th May 2004 2003-2004 Volume 260 Back to top
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till nineteen minutes to Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 10.41 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
(2) Draft Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Audit of Public Bodies) Order 2004 [by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Ruth Kelly]. Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
APPENDIX II Reports from Select Committees
(2) Thirtieth Report from the Committee [Out of sight—not out of mind: Ofwat and the public sewer network in England and Wales]; to be printed, together with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 463]; (3) Thirty-first Report from the Committee [Cambridge—MIT Institute]; to be printed, together with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 502]; and (4) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Health and Safety Executive: Improving health and safety in the construction industry]; to be printed [No. 627-i] [Mr Edward Leigh]. Page 352 Monday 24th May 2004 2003-2004 Volume 260 Back to top [No. 93.] Tuesday 25th May 2004. The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock. PRAYERS.
That the proposal for the Regulatory Reform (Local Commissioner for Wales) Order 2004, which was laid before the House on 18th March, should be amended before an Order is laid before the House.
That the Standing Committee recommends that the Programme Order of 12th May in relation to the Age-Related Payments Bill be amended as follows: Leave out paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Order, and insert— ‘Proceedings on consideration and Third Reading should (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion three hours after the commencement of proceedings on consideration or, if earlier, at the moment of interruption.' Report, together with Resolution, to lie upon the Table.
Bill, not amended in the Standing Committee, to be considered to-morrow. Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to be printed [No. 632].
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
A Clause (NC1) (Religion)—(Mr Edward Leigh)—brought up, and read the first time. Question put, That the Clause be read a second time. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Andrew Selous, Chris Grayling: 104. Tellers for the Noes, Gillian Merron, Mr John Heppell: 296. Another Clause (NC2) (Application following issue of an interim gender recognition certificate)—(Hugh Bayley)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn. Another Clause (NC3) (Olympic athletes)—(Mr Tim Boswell)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn. Another Clause (NC4) (Marriage between transgendered persons)—(Mr Tim Boswell)—brought up, and read the first time. Page 353 Tuesday 25th May 2004 2003-2004 Volume 260 Back to top Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn. Another Clause (NC5) (Disclosure of purposes of Criminal Records Bureau checks)—(Mr Tim Boswell)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn. Another Clause (NC7) (Successful applications: married couples)—(Mr Andrew Mitchell)—brought up, and read the first time. Question put, That the Clause be read a second time. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Richard Younger-Ross, Mr Paul Goodman: 94. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Fraser Kemp, Joan Ryan: 303. It being after Six o'clock, the Deputy Speaker, pursuant to Order [23rd February], put the Question on the Amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown to be disposed of at that hour. Amendments (Nos. 3 and 4) made to the Bill. A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be now read the third time; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Fraser Kemp, Joan Ryan: 355. Tellers for the Noes, Angela Watkinson, Mr Eric Forth: 46. So the Question was agreed to. The Bill was accordingly read the third time, and passed, with Amendments.
(1) the matter of the future direction of community relations policy in Northern Ireland be referred to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee; (2) the Committee shall meet at Westminster on Thursday 17th June at half-past Two o'clock; and (3) at that sitting— (a) the Committee shall take questions under Standing Order No. 110 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (questions for oral answer)), and shall then consider the matter referred to it under paragraph (1) above; (b) the chairman shall interrupt proceedings not later than two and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the matter referred to the Committee; and (c) at the conclusion of those proceedings, a motion for the adjournment of the Committee may be made by a Minister of the Crown, pursuant to paragraph (5) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)).—(Margaret Moran.)
And the Motion having been made after Seven 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 eighteen minutes to Eight o'clock, till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 7.42 p.m. Page 354 Tuesday 25th May 2004 2003-2004 Volume 260 Back to top APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
APPENDIX II Standing Committees
APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
Page 355 Tuesday 25th May 2004 2003-2004 Volume 260 Back to top (2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [UK–ASEAN Trade Relations]; to be printed [No. 388-ii] [Mr Martin O'Neill].
[No. 93; WH, No. 57] Tuesday 25th May 2004. The House sitting in Westminster Hall The sitting commenced at half-past Nine o'clock.
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 4.44 p.m. [No. 94.] Wednesday 26th May 2004. The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock PRAYERS.
University of Manchester Bill [Lords]. Bill to be read a second time.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
Financial Burdens Imposed on Local Authorities by Central Government,— A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes that each year the Government has pledged a ‘generous' increase in local government funding, yet council tax in England has on average risen by three times the rate of inflation every year since 1997; observes that the cumulative additional council tax burden since 1997–98 is £1,716 for a typical Band D household; deplores the failure of the Government to recognise its role in generating the underlying pressures leading to council tax increases, including new responsibilities, compliance requirements, red tape, targets and assessments imposed by central Government on local authorities; further notes that unfunded cost pressures force councils either to introduce disproportionate increases in council taxes or cut local front line services; and believes that this is a further indicator of growing centralisation and Whitehall interference in local communities, eroding local democracy and weakening democratic accountability—(Mr Philip Hammond); Page 356 Wednesday 26th May 2004 2003-2004 Volume 260 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 ‘notes that the Government has increased grant to local authorities by 30 per cent. in real terms since 1997, in contrast to real terms grant cuts under the previous government; endorses the firm action taken by the Government to reduce council tax increases in 2004–05 to the lowest level for nine years; notes that Labour councils have the lowest average Council Tax increases at 4.7 per cent. and the lowest average level of Council Tax at £870; congratulates the Government on its commitment to enhancing the delivery of public services by local authorities and notes the evidence from the Comprehensive Performance Assessment of significant improvement in local authority performance; welcomes the extension of substantial freedoms and flexibilities to local authorities, including the prudential borrowing regime replacing the capital controls imposed by the previous government; notes with concern that all of these advances would be jeopardised by the policies of the official Opposition which would freeze expenditure on most local authority services; contrasts the Opposition's current rhetoric with its track record of centralisation when in government; rejects its opportunistic approach; and endorses the Government's commitment to high performing local authorities delivering effective local leadership and quality public services in the most cost-effective way', instead thereof.—(Mr Nick Raynsford.) And the Question being proposed, That the original words stand part of the Question; Mr Patrick McLoughlin 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 Peter Atkinson, Gregory Barker: 189. Tellers for the Noes, Gillian Merron, Margaret Moran: 326. 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 notes that the Government has increased grant to local authorities by 30 per cent. in real terms since 1997, in contrast to real terms grant cuts under the previous government; endorses the firm action taken by the Government to reduce council tax increases in 2004–05 to the lowest level for nine years; notes that Labour councils have the lowest average Council Tax increases at 4.7 per cent. and the lowest average level of Council Tax at £870; congratulates the Government on its commitment to enhancing the delivery of public services by local authorities and notes the evidence from the Comprehensive Performance Assessment of significant improvement in local authority performance; welcomes the extension of substantial freedoms and flexibilities to local authorities, including the prudential borrowing regime replacing the capital controls imposed by the previous government; notes with concern that all of these advances would be jeopardised by the policies of the official Opposition which would freeze expenditure on most local authority services; contrasts the Opposition's current rhetoric with its track record of centralisation when in government; rejects its opportunistic approach; and endorses the Government's commitment to high performing local authorities delivering effective local leadership and quality public services in the most cost-effective way. Town Cramming and Urban Sprawl,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes that development of the Green Belt continues unabated under this Government; believes the Government's Communities Plan will be unsustainable and will damage the quality of life of millions of people in this country by concreting over green fields and destroying rural communities; further notes that the Government's targets for brown field development have actually led to the loss of green spaces in suburban areas through infill development; and further believes that communities through their local authorities, not remote regional bodies, should be able to decide the priorities for local development—(Mr John Hayes); 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 ‘applauds the Government for maintaining the amount of Green Belt in England and its pledge to maintain or increase the amount of Green Belt; notes that development of previously developed sites for housing has a crucial role in meeting local needs for housing in the Green Belt and welcomes the Government's crackdown on urban sprawl, by adopting a sequential approach to the release of land and planning growth where it is needed; supports its proactive approach in improving the sustainability of rural communities; applauds the Government's success in achieving its previously developed land target early and increasing average densities of new development, which have helped to take the pressure Page 357 Wednesday 26th May 2004 2003-2004 Volume 260 Back to top off green fields; applauds the Government for introducing new planning policies in PPG17 to protect open spaces of value to the local community; and praises the Government for introducing the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 to improve the speed and quality of decision making and place sustainability at the heart of the planning system, and for its new emphasis on community involvement, ensuring local people's views are an integral part of the plan making process', instead thereof.—(Keith Hill.) And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr John Randall, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: 175. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Vernon Coaker, Mr Nick Ainger: 321. 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 Nick Ainger, Mr Vernon Coaker: 299. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr John Randall: 164. So the Question was agreed to. The Deputy Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to. Resolved, That this House applauds the Government for maintaining the amount of Green Belt in England and its pledge to maintain or increase the amount of Green Belt; notes that development of previously developed sites for housing has a crucial role in meeting local needs for housing in the Green Belt and welcomes the Government's crackdown on urban sprawl, by adopting a sequential approach to the release of land and planning growth where it is needed; supports its proactive approach in improving the sustainability of rural communities; applauds the Government's success in achieving its previously developed land target early and increasing average densities of new development, which have helped to take the pressure off green fields; applauds the Government for introducing new planning policies in PPG17 to protect open spaces of value to the local community; and praises the Government for introducing the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 to improve the speed and quality of decision making and place sustainability at the heart of the planning system, and for its new emphasis on community involvement, ensuring local people's views are an integral part of the plan making process.
(1) the matter of the Report of the Richard Commission be referred to the Welsh Grand Committee for its consideration; and (2) the Committee shall meet at Westminster on Tuesday 6th July at twenty-five minutes past Nine o'clock and between Two o'clock and half-past Four o'clock to consider the matter of the Report of the Richard Commission, under Standing Order No. 107 (Welsh Grand Committee (matters relating exclusively to Wales)).—(Derek Twigg.)
(1) Councillor Dave Cross, Councillor Tom Skipp and others against the proposed closure of the Post Office in the High Road, Benfleet, Essex; and (2) Miss Elizabeth Govier, Councillor Beverley Egan and others against the proposed closure of the Post Office at Victoria Corner, Benfleet, Essex were presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.
And the Motion having been made after Seven 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 three minutes past Eight o'clock, till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 8.03 p.m. Page 358 Wednesday 26th May 2004 2003-2004 Volume 260 Back to top APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
(2) draft Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004 [by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Mr Secretary Darling].
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
APPENDIX II Standing Committees
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Order to the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee: Mr David Chaytor, Mrs Helen Clark, Paul Clark, Mr Ian Davidson, Jim Dobbin, Mr Adrian Flook, Linda Gilroy, Dr Evan Harris, Phil Hope, Dr Brian Iddon, Ms Sally Keeble, Mr Brian Sedgemore, Mr Hugo Swire, Mr Robert Syms, Ann Winterton and Richard Younger-Ross.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee: Mr Tim Boswell, Mr Tony Clarke, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Paul Flynn, Mr Don Foster, Mr Fraser Kemp, Mr Piara S. Khabra, Estelle Morris, Linda Perham, Mr Kerry Pollard, Bob Russell, Christine Russell, Dr Howard Stoate, Mr Michael Trend, Mr John Wilkinson and Mr Brian Wilson.
European Standing Committees
APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
Page 359 Wednesday 26th May 2004 2003-2004 Volume 260 Back to top (2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Duty of Care]; to be printed [No. 620-i] [Bruce George].
(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Bovine TB]; to be printed [No. 638-i]; and (3) Memoranda laid before the Committee [Milk Pricing] [Mr Michael Jack].
(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [The Sustainable Development Strategy: illusion or reality?]; to be printed [No. 624-i] [Mr Peter Ainsworth].
(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [The Use of Science in UK International Development Policy]; to be printed [No. 133-v] [Dr Ian Gibson].
(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [European Community Competence and Transport]; to be printed [No. 581-iii] [Mr Michael Jack].
Page 360 Wednesday 26th May 2004 2003-2004 Volume 260 Back to top [No. 94; WH, No. 58] Wednesday 26th May 2004. The House sitting in Westminster Hall The sitting commenced at half-past Nine o'clock.
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 4.42 p.m. [No. 95.] Thursday 27th May 2004. The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock. PRAYERS.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
The Motion was, with leave of the House, withdrawn.
(1) supporters of the Regenerate.com lunch club in Roehampton against the proposed withdrawal of support for lunch clubs by Wandsworth Borough Council; (2) Councillor Enid Isaacs, Councillor Norman Ladzrie and others against the proposed closure of the Post Office in Woodfield Road, Hadleigh, and for policies to enable Post Offices to remain open; and (3) Mrs Abi Nawaz and others for the release of Maajid Nawaz from jail in Egypt were presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty-eight minutes to Seven o'clock, adjourned till Monday 7th June, pursuant to Resolution [10th May]. [Adjourned at 6.32 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
(2) Local Authority (Overview and Scrutiny Committees Health Scrutiny Functions) Amendment Regulations 2004 (S.I., 2004, No. 1427), dated 24th May 2004 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Reid].
Page 361 Thursday 27th May 2004 2003-2004 Volume 260 Back to top
Other Papers:
(1) for the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers (Code C), (2) for the exercise by: police officers of statutory powers of stop and search; police officers and police staff of requirements to record public encounters (Code A), (3) for the identification of persons by police officers (Code D), (4) for searches of premises by police officers and the seizure of property found by police officers on persons or premises (Code B), (5) on tape recording interviews with suspects (Code E), and (6) on visual recording with sound of interviews with suspects (Code F) [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
Papers withdrawn:
(2) Draft Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Audit of Public Bodies) Order 2004 [laid 24th May 2004]. APPENDIX II Standing Committees
[No. 95; WH, No. 59] Thursday 27th May 2004. The House sitting in Westminster Hall The sitting commenced at half-past Two o'clock.
And the sitting having continued for three hours, it was adjourned without Question put, till Tuesday 8th June. [Adjourned at 5.30 p.m.
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