Amendment negatived.
Mr. Deputy Speaker then proceeded to put the Questions necessary to dispose of the business to be concluded at that hour.
Transfer Schemes at End of Franchising Agreements
Amendment proposed: No. 17, in page 11, line 14 [Clause 12], at end insert
'(3A) The appropriate national authority shall not make a scheme for the transfer of relevant franchise assets to a franchise company, at the end of the franchise period, if an independent assessment, which must be authorised by the national authority, demonstrates that the assets could be operated more economically and efficiently by a person identified in subsection (3)(a), (b), (c) or (d).'.
[John McDonnell.]
Question put, That the amendment be made:
The House divided: Ayes 49, Noes 208.
Division No. 54
[5 pm
AYES
Allan, Richard
Barnes, Harry
Bruce, Malcolm
Burstow, Paul
Cable, Dr. Vincent
Campbell, Ronnie
(Blyth V)
Carmichael, Alistair
Clapham, Michael
Cook, rh Robin
(Livingston)
Cryer, Ann
(Keighley)
Cryer, John
(Hornchurch)
Davidson, Ian
Dobbin, Jim
(Heywood)
Doughty, Sue
Drew, David
(Stroud)
Foster, Don
(Bath)
Gerrard, Neil
Gill, Parmjit Singh
Green, Matthew
(Ludlow)
Grogan, John
Hamilton, David
(Midlothian)
Hoey, Kate
(Vauxhall)
Hopkins, Kelvin
Hughes, Simon
(Southwark N)
Jones, Lynne
(Selly Oak)
Kennedy, rh Charles
(Ross Skye & Inverness)
Lamb, Norman
Llwyd, Elfyn
McDonnell, John
Mackinlay, Andrew
Mahon, Mrs Alice
Marshall-Andrews, Robert
Mitchell, Austin
(Gt Grimsby)
Prentice, Gordon
(Pendle)
Price, Adam
(E Carmarthen & Dinefwr)
Prosser, Gwyn
Rendel, David
Robertson, Angus
(Moray)
Russell, Bob
(Colchester)
Sedgemore, Brian
Skinner, Dennis
Smith, Llew
(Blaenau Gwent)
Taylor, David
(NW Leics)
Taylor, Dr. Richard
(Wyre F)
Thurso, John
Weir, Michael
Williams, Hywel
(Caernarfon)
Winnick, David
Younger-Ross, Richard
Tellers for the Ayes:
Mr. Robert N. Wareing and
Jeremy Corbyn
NOES
Ainger, Nick
Ainsworth, Bob
(Cov'try NE)
Alexander, Douglas
Allen, Graham
Anderson, Janet
(Rossendale & Darwen)
Atkins, Charlotte
Bailey, Adrian
Baird, Vera
Barron, rh Kevin
Battle, rh John
Beard, Nigel
Benton, Joe
(Bootle)
Betts, Clive
Blackman, Liz
Boateng, rh Paul
Bradley, Peter
(The Wrekin)
Browne, Desmond
Bryant, Chris
Buck, Ms Karen
Burden, Richard
Burnham, Andy
Burnside, David
Byers, rh Stephen
Byrne, Liam
(B'ham Hodge H)
Cairns, David
Campbell, Mrs Anne
(C'bridge)
Casale, Roger
Challen, Colin
Clark, Dr. Lynda
(Edinburgh Pentlands)
Clarke, rh Tom
(Coatbridge & Chryston)
Clelland, David
Coffey, Ms Ann
Colman, Tony
Conway, Derek
Cooper, Yvette
Crausby, David
Cummings, John
Curry, rh David
Darling, rh Alistair
David, Wayne
Davidson, Ian
Davies, Geraint
(Croydon C)
Davis, rh David
(Haltemprice & Howden)
Dhanda, Parmjit
Donohoe, Brian H.
Doran, Frank
Dowd, Jim
(Lewisham W)
Drown, Ms Julia
Dunwoody, Mrs Gwyneth
Eagle, Angela
(Wallasey)
Eagle, Maria
(L'pool Garston)
Ellman, Mrs Louise
Ennis, Jeff
(Barnsley E)
Fallon, Michael
Farrelly, Paul
Field, rh Frank
(Birkenhead)
Field, Mark
(Cities of London & Westminster)
Fitzpatrick, Jim
Follett, Barbara
Forth, rh Eric
Foster, rh Derek
Foster, Michael
(Worcester)
Gapes, Mike
(Ilford S)
Gibson, Dr. Ian
Gilroy, Linda
Godsiff, Roger
Hain, rh Peter
Hall, Mike
(Weaver Vale)
Hall, Patrick
(Bedford)
Hanson, David
Harman, rh Ms Harriet
Harris, Tom
(Glasgow Cathcart)
Healey, John
Henderson, Doug
(Newcastle N)
Hendrick, Mark
Hepburn, Stephen
Heppell, John
Heyes, David
Hope, Phil
(Corby)
Howarth, rh Alan
(Newport E)
Howarth, George
(Knowsley N & Sefton E)
Humble, Mrs Joan
Iddon, Dr. Brian
Illsley, Eric
Irranca-Davies, Huw
Jackson, Glenda
(Hampstead & Highgate)
Jackson, Helen
(Hillsborough)
Jamieson, David
Jenkins, Brian
Johnson, Miss Melanie
(Welwyn Hatfield)
Jones, Kevan
(N Durham)
Jones, Martyn
(Clwyd S)
Jowell, rh Tessa
Keeble, Ms Sally
Keen, Alan
(Feltham)
Keen, Ann
(Brentford)
Kemp, Fraser
Khabra, Piara S.
Kidney, David
Kilfoyle, Peter
King, Andy
(Rugby)
King, Ms Oona
(Bethnal Green & Bow)
Kirkbride, Miss Julie
Knight, Jim
(S Dorset)
Kumar, Dr. Ashok
Ladyman, Dr. Stephen
Laxton, Bob
(Derby N)
Lepper, David
Levitt, Tom
(High Peak)
Linton, Martin
Love, Andrew
Lucas, Ian
(Wrexham)
Luff, Peter
(M-Worcs)
McAvoy, rh Thomas
McCabe, Stephen
McDonagh, Siobhain
MacDonald, Calum
MacDougall, John
McFall, rh John
McGuire, Mrs Anne
Mackay, rh Andrew
McKechin, Ann
McKenna, Rosemary
McNulty, Tony
McWalter, Tony
McWilliam, John
Mahmood, Khalid
Mallaber, Judy
Mann, John
(Bassetlaw)
Marsden, Gordon
(Blackpool S)
Michael, rh Alun
Miliband, David
Mitchell, Andrew
(Sutton Coldfield)
Moffatt, Laura
Mole, Chris
Morris, rh Estelle
Mountford, Kali
Mudie, George
Munn, Ms Meg
Murphy, Jim
(Eastwood)
Naysmith, Dr. Doug
Norris, Dan
(Wansdyke)
O'Brien, Mike
(N Warks)
Olner, Bill
Osborne, Sandra
(Ayr)
Palmer, Dr. Nick
Perham, Linda
Picking, Anne
Pike, Peter
(Burnley)
Plaskitt, James
Pollard, Kerry
Pound, Stephen
Prentice, Ms Bridget
(Lewisham E)
Primarolo, rh Dawn
Purchase, Ken
Quinn, Lawrie
Randall, John
Raynsford, rh Nick
Reed, Andy
(Loughborough)
Robertson, John
(Glasgow Anniesland)
Robinson, Geoffrey
(Coventry NW)
Rooney, Terry
Rosindell, Andrew
Ruddock, Joan
Russell, Ms Christine
(City of Chester)
Ryan, Joan
(Enfield N)
Salter, Martin
Sarwar, Mohammad
Savidge, Malcolm
Sheridan, Jim
Simon, Siôn
(B'ham Erdington)
Smith, rh Chris
(Islington S & Finsbury)
Soley, Clive
Southworth, Helen
Spellar, rh John
Stewart, Ian
(Eccles)
Stoate, Dr. Howard
Stringer, Graham
Stuart, Ms Gisela
Sutcliffe, Gerry
Swayne, Desmond
Taylor, rh Ann
(Dewsbury)
Taylor, Dari
(Stockton S)
Thomas, Gareth
(Harrow W)
Timms, Stephen
Tipping, Paddy
Todd, Mark
(S Derbyshire)
Trickett, Jon
Turner, Dr. Desmond
(Brighton Kemptown)
Turner, Neil
(Wigan)
Twigg, Derek
(Halton)
Twigg, Stephen
(Enfield)
Tynan, Bill
(Hamilton S)
Tyrie, Andrew
Walley, Ms Joan
Ward, Claire
Watson, Tom
White, Brian
Whitehead, Dr. Alan
Wicks, Malcolm
Wills, Michael
Wilshire, David
Winterton, Ann
(Congleton)
Winterton, Sir Nicholas
(Macclesfield)
Woolas, Phil
Wright, David
(Telford)
Wright, Iain
(Hartlepool)
Wright, Tony
(Cannock)
Tellers for the Noes:
James Purnell and
Margaret Moran
Question accordingly negatived.
27 Jan 2005 : Column 529
Clause 22
Proposal by Service Operator to Discontinue Non-Franchised Services
Amendment proposed: No. 38, in page 21, line 2, at end insert