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Personal Statement
3.32 pm
Mr. Peter Hain (Neath) (Lab): With permission, Mr. Speaker, I wish to make a personal statement.
I am grateful to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards for his fair and accurate report and to the Committee on Standards and Privileges for its equally fair conclusions. My failure to declare to the Registrar of Members’ Interests, within the time required, all the donations to my campaign for the deputy leadership of the Labour party was wrong. I note that the Committee fully accepts that I acted with “commendable speed to rectify” this once I had discovered the problem—indeed, a month before any complaint was made against me—and that there was “no intention to deceive”. I have always accepted full responsibility for this honest mistake and I apologise unreservedly to the House.
Bills Presented
Pharmaceutical Labelling (Warning of Cognitive Function Impairment) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Mr. Virendra Sharma, John Austin, Clive Efford, Mike Gapes, Ms Karen Buck, Siobhain McDonagh, Judy Mallaber, Rob Marris and Mr. Chris Mullin, presented a Bill to make provision for a warning symbol to be prominently displayed on the packaging of pharmaceuticals which act on the brain and central nervous system so as to impair dangerously the consumer’s ability to carry out certain activities; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 27 February , and to be printed (Bill 30).
Employers’ Liability Insurance Bureau Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Shona McIsaac, Mr. Virendra Sharma, John Austin, Clive Efford, Mike Gapes, Ms Karen Buck, Siobhain McDonagh, Judy Mallaber, Rob Marris, Mr. Chris Mullin and Jim Sheridan, presented a Bill to make provision for the creation of an employers’ liability insurance bureau comprising an electronic database and a fund of last resort; to make provision about employers’ liability insurance; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 13 March, and to be printed (Bill 31).
British Museum Act 1963 (Amendment) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Mr. Edward O’Hara, Clive Efford, Siobhain McDonagh, Rob Marris, Mr. Virendra Sharma, John Austin and Ms Karen Buck, presented a Bill to amend the British Museum Act 1963 to permit the transfer of artefacts in the British Museum; to confer powers on the Secretary of State to require the transfer of artefacts in specified circumstances; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 20 March, and to be printed (Bill 32).
Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Shona McIsaac, Clive Efford, Mr. Virendra Sharma, Mike Gapes, Ms Karen Buck, Siobhain McDonagh, Judy Mallaber, Rob Marris, Mr. Chris Mullin and Jim Sheridan, presented a Bill to provide that certain asbestos-related conditions are actionable personal injuries; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 24 April, and to be printed (Bill 33).
Land Use (Gardens Protection Etc) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Shona McIsaac, Mr. Virendra Sharma, John Austin, Clive Efford, Ms Karen Buck, Siobhain McDonagh, Rob Marris and Mr. Chris Mullin, presented a Bill to make provision for the protection of gardens and urban green spaces; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 8 May, and to be printed (Bill 34).
Holocaust (Stolen Art) Restitution Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Mike Gapes, Ms Karen Buck, Siobhain McDonagh, Rob Marris, Mr. Chris Mullin, Clive Efford, John Austin, Mr. Virendra Sharma and Mrs. Louise Ellman, presented a Bill to provide for the transfer from public museum and gallery collections of arts, artefacts and other objects stolen between 1933 and 1945 by or on behalf of the Nazi regime, its members and sympathisers; to provide for the return of such artefacts and objects to the lawful owners, their heirs and successors; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 15 May, and to be printed (Bill 35).
Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Dr. Tony Wright, Ms Karen Buck, Mr. Virendra Sharma, Mike Gapes, Shona McIsaac, Rob Marris, Mr. Chris Mullin, John Austin, Clive Efford and Siobhain McDonagh, presented a Bill to make provision for and in connection with the removal of general restrictions as to nationality which apply to persons employed or holding office in any civil capacity under the Crown; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 12 June, and to be printed (Bill 39).
Torture (Damages) (No. 2) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Mr. Virendra Sharma, John Austin, Clive Efford, Ms Karen Buck, Siobhain McDonagh, Rob Marris and Mr. Chris Mullin, presented a Bill to make provision for actions for damages for torture; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 19 June, and to be printed (Bill 40).
Illegally Logged Timber (Prohibition of Sale) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Mr. Virendra Sharma, John Austin, Clive Efford, Mike Gapes, Siobhain McDonagh, Judy Mallaber, Rob Marris, Mr. Chris Mullin and Barry Gardiner, presented a Bill to prohibit the sale in the United Kingdom of timber and wood products that were obtained or produced illegally in their country of origin; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 26 June, and to be printed (Bill 41).
Human Rights Act 1998 (Meaning of Public Authority) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Mr. Virendra Sharma, John Austin, Ms Karen Buck, Clive Efford, Mike Gapes, Shona McIsaac, Siobhain McDonagh, Judy Mallaber, Rob Marris and Mr. Chris Mullin, presented a Bill to clarify the meaning of ‘public authority’ in section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 3 July, and to be printed (Bill 42).
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by John Austin, Mr. Virendra Sharma, Clive Efford, Ms Karen Buck and Rob Marris, presented a Bill to introduce a national day to learn about and remember the Armenian genocide.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 16 October, and to be printed (Bill 43).
Broadcasting (Television Licence Fee Abolition) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Christopher Chope, supported by Mr. Peter Bone, Philip Davies, Mr. Mark Field and Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory, presented a Bill to make provision for the abolition of the television licence fee; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 27 February, and to be printed (Bill 44).
Sovereignty of Parliament (European Communities) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Christopher Chope, supported by Mr. Peter Bone, Mr. William Cash, Philip Davies, Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory, Mr. Richard Shepherd, Mr. Andrew Turner, Sir Peter Viggers, Sir Nicholas Winterton and Mr. Roger Gale, presented a Bill to provide that Community treaties, Community instruments and Community obligations shall only be binding in legal proceedings in the United
Kingdom insofar as they do not conflict with a subsequent, expressly inconsistent enactment of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 27 February, and to be printed (Bill 45).
European Union (Audit of Benefits and Costs of UK Membership) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Christopher Chope, supported by Mr. Peter Bone, Mr. William Cash, Philip Davies, Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory, Mr. Richard Shepherd, Mr. Andrew Turner, Sir Peter Viggers, Sir Nicholas Winterton and Mr. Roger Gale, presented a Bill to establish a Commission to carry out regular audits of the economic costs and benefits of the UK’s membership of the European Union; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 27 February, and to be printed (Bill 46).
Drugs (Roadside Testing) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Christopher Chope, supported by Mr. Peter Bone, Mr. William Cash, Philip Davies, Mr. Nigel Evans, Richard Ottaway, Mr. Greg Knight, Mr. Graham Stuart, Sir Peter Viggers, Sir George Young and Sir Nicholas Winterton, presented a Bill to make provision for roadside testing for illegal drugs; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 27 February, and to be printed (Bill 47).
Pedlars (Amendment) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Christopher Chope, supported by Philip Davies, Mr. Ian Liddell-Grainger and Sir Paul Beresford, presented a Bill to amend the Pedlars Act 1871.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 27 February, and to be printed (Bill 48).
Broadcasting (Public Service Content) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Christopher Chope, supported by Mr. Peter Bone, Philip Davies, Mr. Mark Field, Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory, Mr. Brian Binley, Mr. Roger Gale and Mr. Andrew Tyrie, presented a Bill to define public service content for the purposes of public service broadcasting.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 27 February, and to be printed (Bill 49).
Safety of Medicines (Evaluation) Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Dr. Ian Gibson, supported by Mr. Mike Hancock and Mr. David Amess, presented a Bill to make provision about the evaluation of methods of testing the safety of medicines; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 27 February, and to be printed (Bill 50).
Points of Order
3.36 pm
David Taylor (North-West Leicestershire) (Lab/Co-op): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. At the weekend, I received within just a few hours more than 6,000 e-mails in relation to the debate on Heathrow. They were apparently organised or encouraged by Greenpeace and came from e-mailers right across the south-east; none were from my own constituency. Will you advise me whether the Standing Orders of the House can be amended to reflect such new developments? I think that what I have described is called e-mail bombing, which is designed to overflow e-mail inboxes and interfere with the legitimate work of MPs at what for most of us are busy times. The e-mails took many hours to deal with. I am sure that you personally find the practice reprehensible, Mr. Speaker. Are there ways in which we can prevent it from happening to other Members? Indeed, it may have already happened to them; I do not know.
Mr. Speaker: My first piece of advice is this. The hon. Gentleman works hard throughout the week. Sunday is a day of rest, and he should not look at e-mails on that day. Seriously, I should say that the House authorities are looking at the matter.
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Have you had a request from any Government Minister to make a statement concerning the BBC’s refusal to broadcast the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for the people of Gaza?
Mr. Speaker: That is not a matter for the Chair.
Coroners and Justice Bill
[Relevant Document: The Second Report from the Justice Committee, Session 2008-09, on the Coroners and Justice Bill, HC 185.]
Mr. Speaker: I inform the House that I have selected the amendment in the name of the Liberal Democrats.
3.38 pm
The Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Jack Straw): I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
The measures in the Bill are designed further to strengthen and to improve confidence in our justice system, building on more than a decade of record investment and substantial cultural and institutional reform. As a result, crime is down by more than a third since 1997. This is the first Administration since the war to preside over a significant and sustained reduction in crime. The chances of being a victim are now the lowest since accurate recording began more than 25 years ago. This means that there were 4 million fewer victims of crime in 2008 than there were in 1998. Over the same period, many more offences have been brought to justice—nearly 1.5 million in the year to March 2008.
In the past, victims and witnesses fared badly within the justice system— prosecutors would barely even speak to their own witnesses, and victims and witnesses could be made to share a waiting room with the friends and family of the defendant. There was little or no help for vulnerable witnesses giving evidence. Since 1997, this Government have worked very hard to give a central voice and priority to victims and witnesses. We have increased investment threefold in support for them: for example, the amount for victim support alone has trebled. Victims have been given the legal right to minimum standards of service. There are victim personal statements in court and a victims’ advisory panel to inform Government policy. We have made it easier and less traumatic for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses to give evidence in court.
Before I continue, let me say that I should have begun by welcoming the hon. and learned Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) to his new and elevated post as shadow Justice Secretary and shadow Lord Chancellor. I first noticed his quality and judgment more than 10 years ago when he was speaking vocally and eloquently in favour of what was then the Human Rights Bill. It is fair to say that ever since he has been a consistent supporter of what is now the Human Rights Act 1998 and the incorporation of those measures into British law. We congratulate the Leader of the Opposition on his judgment in elevating the hon. and learned Gentleman to this post. May I also put on record my thanks to his predecessor, the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert)? We sometimes had our disagreements, but we had a very constructive relationship and I wish him well in his new post.
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