House of Lords Journal 231 (Session 1997-98)

Previous Next Page 284 1997-98 Volume 231       Wednesday 29 October 1997 The House met at a quarter-past two o’clock. The following Lords Spiritual and Temporal were present: Irvine of Lairg, L. (Lord Chancellor) Aberdare, L. Ackner, L. Acton, L. Addington, L. Addison, V. Ailesbury, M. Ailsa, M. Aldenham, L. Alderdice, L. Alexander of Tunis, E. Allenby of Megiddo, V. Ampthill, L. Anelay of St. Johns, B. Annaly, L. Annan, L. Archer of Weston-Super-Mare, L. Arran, E. Ashbourne, L. Ashburton, L. Ashley of Stoke, L. Astor of Hever, L. Baker of Dorking, L. Baldwin of Bewdley, E. Balfour of Inchrye, L. Beaumont of Whitley, L. Beaverbrook, L. Belhaven and Stenton, L. Bellwin, L. Beloff, L. Berkeley, L. Bethell, L. Biddulph, L. Blackwell, L. Blaker, L. Blatch, B. Blease, L. Blyth, L. Boardman, L. Borrie, L. Boston of Faversham, L. Bowness, L. Boyd-Carpenter, L. Brabazon of Tara, L. Braine of Wheatley, L. Braybrooke, L. Bridgeman, V. Bridges, L. Brightman, L. Broadbridge, L. Brooke of Alverthorpe, L. Brookeborough, V. Brookes, L. Brooks of Tremorfa, L. Brougham and Vaux, L. Broughshane, L. Bruce of Donington, L. Bruntisfield, L. Buccleuch and Queensberry, D. Burnham, L. Butterworth, L. Cadman, L. Caithness, E. Caldecote, V. Callaghan of Cardiff, L. Calverley, L. Campbell of Alloway, L. Campbell of Croy, L. Carlisle, E. Carmichael of Kelvingrove, L. Carnegy of Lour, B. Carr of Hadley, L. Carter, L. Chalfont, L. Charteris of Amisfield, L. Chesham, L. Chorley, L. Clancarty, E. Clanwilliam, E. Clark of Kempston, L. Cledwyn of Penrhos, L. Clinton, L. Cockfield, L. Cocks of Hartcliffe, L. Coleraine, L. Coleridge, L. Colwyn, L. Constantine of Stanmore, L. Cope of Berkeley, L. Cornwallis, L. Courtown, E. Cox, B. Craigavon, V. Cranborne, V. Cranbrook, E. Crathorne, L. Crickhowell, L. Cross, V. Cullen of Ashbourne, L. Cumberlege, B. David, B. Davidson, V. Davies of Coity, L. Davies of Oldham, L. Dean of Beswick, L. Dean of Harptree, L. Denbigh, E. Denham, L. Derwent, L. Desai, L. Dholakia, L. Digby, L. Dilhorne, V. Dixon, L. Dixon-Smith, L. Donaldson of Kingsbridge, L. Dormand of Easington, L. Downshire, M. Dulverton, L. Dundee, E. Eatwell, L. Eccles of Moulton, B. Effingham, E. Elibank, L. Elis-Thomas, L. Ellenborough, L. Elles, B. Elliott of Morpeth, L. Elton, L. Erroll, E. Evans of Parkside, L. Ewing of Kirkford, L. Exmouth, V. Ezra, L. Falconer of Thoroton, L. Falkland, V. Farrington of Ribbleton, B. Ferrers, E. Fisher of Rednal, B. Fitt, L. Flather, B. Foley, L. Fookes, B. Fraser of Carmyllie, L. Freyberg, L. Gainford, L. Gainsborough, E. Gallacher, L. Garel-Jones, L. Geddes, L. Geraint, L. Gillmore of Thamesfield, L. Gisborough, L. Gladwin of Clee, L. Glenamara, L. Glenarthur, L. Gordon of Strathblane, L. Gormanston, V. Goschen, V. Graham of Edmonton, L. Grantchester, L. Gray, L. Gray of Contin, L. Greenhill of Harrow, L. Greenway, L. Grey, E. Griffiths of Fforestfach, L. Halsbury, E. Hampton, L. Hardie, L. Harding of Petherton, L. Hardwicke, E. Hardy of Wath, L. Harlech, L. Harmar-Nicholls, L. Harris of Greenwich, L. Harrowby, E. Haskel, L. Page 285 1997-98 Volume 231 Back to top Haslam, L. Hayhoe, L. Hayman, B. Hayter, L. Head, V. Hemphill, L. Henley, L. Hilton of Eggardon, B. Hoffmann, L. Hogg, B. Hogg of Cumbernauld, L. Holderness, L. Hollis of Heigham, B. Holme of Cheltenham, L. Hooper, B. Hooson, L. Howe, E. Howell of Guildford, L. Howie of Troon, L. Hoyle, L. Hughes, L. Hughes of Woodside, L. Hurd of Westwell, L. Hylton-Foster, B. Ilchester, E. Inge, L. Inglewood, L. Ironside, L. Jakobovits, L. Jay of Paddington, B. Jellicoe, E. Jenkins of Hillhead, L. Jenkins of Putney, L. Johnston of Rockport, L. Judd, L. Kenilworth, L. Kenyon, L. Kilbracken, L. Kilmarnock, L. Kimball, L. Kingsland, L. Kinloss, Ly. Kinnoull, E. Kintore, E. Kirkhill, L. Knollys, V. Lane of Horsell, L. Lang of Monkton, L. Lauderdale, E. Lawrence, L. Layton, L. Leathers, V. Leigh, L. Levy, L. Lindsay, E. Liverpool, E. Lockwood, B. Long, V. Longford, E. Lowry, L. Lucas, L. Lucas of Chilworth, L. Ludford, B. Luke, L. McColl of Dulwich, L. McIntosh of Haringey, L. Mackay of Ardbrecknish, L. Mackie of Benshie, L. Mackintosh of Halifax, V. MacLaurin of Knebworth, L. MacLehose of Beoch, L. Macleod of Borve, B. McNair, L. McNally, L. Mar, C. Marlesford, L. Marsh, L. Masham of Ilton, B. Mason of Barnsley, L. Massereene and Ferrard, V. Merlyn-Rees, L. Mersey, V. Meston, L. Miller of Hendon, B. Milverton, L. Mishcon, L. Molloy, L. Molyneaux of Killead, L. Monckton of Brenchley, V. Monkswell, L. Monson, L. Montagu of Beaulieu, L. Morris of Castle Morris, L. Morris of Manchester, L. Mottistone, L. Mountevans, L. Mowbray and Stourton, L. Moyne, L. Moynihan, L. Munster, E. Murray of Epping Forest, L. Napier and Ettrick, L. Nelson, E. Newall, L. Newby, L. Nicol, B. Noel-Buxton, L. Norfolk, D. Norrie, L. Northesk, E. O’Cathain, B. Ogmore, L. Oliver of Aylmerton, L. Onslow, E. Orr-Ewing, L. Oxford, Bp. Oxfuird, V. Palmer, L. Park of Monmouth, B. Paul, L. Pearson of Rannoch, L. Peel, E. Pender, L. Perry of Southwark, B. Perry of Walton, L. Perth, E. Peston, L. Peyton of Yeovil, L. Pilkington of Oxenford, L. Plant of Highfield, L. Plummer of St. Marylebone, L. Ponsonby of Shulbrede, L. Prys-Davies, L. Quirk, L. Ramsay of Cartvale, B. Randall of St. Budeaux, L. Rankeillour, L. Rathcavan, L. Rawlings, B. Rawlinson of Ewell, L. Rea, L. Rees, L. Rennell, L. Renton, L. Renton of Mount Harry, L. Renwick, L. Richard, L. Richardson, L. Roberts of Conwy, L. Robson of Kiddington, B. Rodgers of Quarry Bank, L. Roll of Ipsden, L. Rotherwick, L. Rowallan, L. Sainsbury, L. Sainsbury of Turville, L. Saint Albans, D. St. Davids, V. St. John of Bletso, L. St. John of Fawsley, L. Saltoun of Abernethy, Ly. Sandwich, E. Savile, L. Seccombe, B. Sefton of Garston, L. Selborne, E. Selkirk of Douglas, L. Selsdon, L. Sempill, L. Shannon, E. Sharples, B. Shaughnessy, L. Shaw of Northstead, L. Shepherd, L. Simon, V. Simon of Glaisdale, L. Skelmersdale, L. Slim, V. Slynn of Hadley, L. Smith of Gilmorehill, B. Spens, L. Stallard, L. Steel of Aikwood, L. Stewartby, L. Stockton, E. Stodart of Leaston, L. Stoddart of Swindon, L. Strabolgi, L. Strafford, E. Strange, B. Strathcarron, L. Strathclyde, L. Strathcona and Mount Royal, L. Sudeley, L. Swansea, L. Swinfen, L. Taverne, L. Taylor of Gryfe, L. Taylor of Warwick, L. Teviot, L. Teynham, L. Thomas of Gresford, L. Thomas of Gwydir, L. Thomas of Walliswood, B. Thurlow, L. Thurso, V. Tordoff, L. Page 286 1997-98 Volume 231 Back to top Torrington, V. Trefgarne, L. Trumpington, B. Turner of Camden, B. Ullswater, V. Vinson, L. Vivian, L. Waddington, L. Wade of Chorlton, L. Walker of Doncaster, L. Walpole, L. Waverley, V. Weatherill, L. Wedderburn of Charlton, L. Westbury, L. Wharton, B. White, B. Whitelaw, V. Whitty, L. Wigoder, L. Wilberforce, L. Wilcox, B. Williams of Elvel, L. Winchilsea and Nottingham, E. Winston, L. Wise, L. Wright of Richmond, L. Young, B. Young of Graffham, L. Younger of Prestwick, L. PRAYERS were read by the Lord Bishop of Oxford. 1. Lord Levy—Michael Abraham Levy Esquire, having been created Baron Levy, of Mill Hill in the London Borough of Barnet, for life by Letters Patent dated in the forenoon of 23rd September 1997 (see appendix 1), was introduced between the Lord Jakobovits and the Baroness Jay of Paddington, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod and Garter King of Arms preceding; and made and subscribed the solemn affirmation pursuant to statute. 2. Lord Blackwell—Norman Roy Blackwell Esquire, having been created Baron Blackwell, of Woodcote in the County of Surrey, for life by Letters Patent dated in the afternoon of 2nd October 1997 (see appendix 2), was introduced between the Lord McColl of Dulwich and the Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod and Garter King of Arms preceding; and took and subscribed the oath pursuant to statute. 3. Lord Dholakia—Navnit Dholakia Esquire OBE having been created Baron Dholakia, of Waltham Brooks in the County of West Sussex, for life by Letters Patent dated in the afternoon of 24th October 1997 (see appendix 3), was introduced between the Lord McNally and the Lord Steel of Aikwood, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod and Garter King of Arms preceding; and made and subscribed the solemn affirmation pursuant to statute. 4. Oaths—The Lords following took and subscribed the oath, pursuant to statute: David Ivor Lord Young of Graffham Richard Antony Viscount Head Judicial Business 5. White and others (Respondents) v. Chief Constable of South Yorkshire and others (Appellants)—The appeal was set down for hearing and referred to an Appellate Committee. Papers 6. Command Papers—The following papers were presented to the House by command of Her Majesty and ordered to lie on the Table: 1. Inland Revenue—Report for 1996–97 of the Board of Inland Revenue;   (3771) 2. Customs and Excise—Report for 1996–97 of Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise;   (3776) 3. Telecommunications—Final Acts of the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union with Instruments amending the Constitution and Convention of the International Telecommunication Union, Decisions, Resolutions and Recommendations;   (3779) 4. Crime—Treaty between the United Kingdom and Thailand on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters;   (3783) 5. European Communities—Treaty of Amsterdam amending the Treaty on European Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and certain related Acts.   (3780) 7. Negative Instruments—The following instruments were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table: 1. Draft Statutory Guidance by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on Relocation Grants, laid under the Housing Act 1985;   (—) 2. Public Telecommunication System Designation (Viatel UK Limited) Order 1997, laid under the Telecommunications Act 1984.   (2561) 8. Papers not subject to parliamentary proceedings—The following papers were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table: 1. Report of the Scottish Law Commission on Interpretation In Private Law, laid under the Law Commissions Act 1965; 2. Welsh Church Act Fund: Swansea Scheme, laid under the Welsh Church Act 1914; 3. Report for 1996–97 of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of the Magistrates’ Courts Service, laid under the Justices of the Peace Act 1997; Page 287 1997-98 Volume 231 Back to top 4. Report and Accounts for 1996–97 of British Nuclear Fuels plc, laid under the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1971; 5. Accounts for 1995–96 of Funds in Courts in England and Wales, together with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, laid under the Administration of Justice Act 1982; 6. Licence granted by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to Viatel UK Limited, laid under the Telecommunications Act 1984; 7. Report for 1996–97 of the Economic and Social Research Council, laid under the Science and Technology Act 1965. Select Committee Report 9. Science and Technology—The 2nd Report from the Select Committee, on Meeting with the President of the Board of Trade, was made; it was ordered that the Report be printed, together with the Minutes of Evidence. (HL Paper 30) Public Business 10. Business of the House—It was moved by the Baroness Jay of Paddington, on behalf of the Lord Privy Seal (Lord Richard), that the debate on the motion in the name of the Earl of Sandwich set down for today shall be limited to 2½ hours and that in the name of the Earl of Shannon to 2 hours; the motion was agreed to. 11. India (2½-hour debate)—It was moved by the Earl of Sandwich that there be laid before the House papers relating to India’s socio-economic achievements after 50 years of independence, and to the need for the United Kingdom to help her partners to combat poverty throughout the sub-continent; after debate, the motion was (by leave of the House) withdrawn. 12. Nuclear waste (2-hour debate)—It was moved by the Earl of Shannon that there be laid before the House papers relating to the problem of safe, permanent disposal of high level nuclear waste; after debate, the motion was (by leave of the House) withdrawn. 13. Forestry—The Lord Beaumont of Whitley asked Her Majesty’s Government when they will announce a long-term policy on forestry sales, and what measures will be taken first to ensure that forestry is not sold for inappropriate development within Areas of Outstanding National Beauty and second to ensure secure public access following sale; after debate, the question was answered by the Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton. The House was adjourned at nineteen minutes past eight o’clock till tomorrow, two o’clock for judicial business, three o’clock for public business. APPENDIX 1 ELIZABETH THE SECOND by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith To all Lords Spiritual and Temporal and all other Our Subjects whatsoever to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Know Ye that We of Our especial grace certain knowledge and mere motion in pursuance of the Life Peerages Act 1958 and of all other powers in that behalf Us enabling do by these Presents advance create and prefer Our trusty and well beloved Michael Abraham Levy Esquire to the state degree style dignity title and honour of Baron Levy of Mill Hill in Our London Borough of Barnet And for Us Our heirs and successors do appoint give and grant unto him the said name state degree style dignity title and honour of Baron Levy to have and to hold unto him for his life Willing and by these Presents granting for Us Our heirs and successors that he may have hold and possess a seat place and voice in the Parliaments and Public Assemblies and Councils of Us Our heirs and successors within Our United Kingdom amongst the Barons And also that he may enjoy and use all the rights privileges pre-eminences immunities and advantages to the degree of a Baron duly and of right belonging which Barons of Our United Kingdom have heretofore used and enjoyed or as they do at present use and enjoy In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent Witness Ourself at Westminster in the forenoon of the twenty-third day of September in the forty-sixth year of Our Reign BY WARRANT UNDER THE QUEEN’S SIGN MANUAL Page 288 1997-98 Volume 231 Back to top APPENDIX 2 ELIZABETH THE SECOND by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith To all Lords Spiritual and Temporal and all other Our Subjects whatsoever to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Know Ye that We of Our especial grace certain knowledge and mere motion in pursuance of the Life Peerages Act 1958 and of all other powers in that behalf Us enabling do by these Presents advance create and prefer Our trusty and well beloved Norman Roy Blackwell Esquire to the state degree style dignity title and honour of Baron Blackwell of Woodcote in Our County of Surrey And for Us Our heirs and successors do appoint give and grant unto him the said name state degree style dignity title and honour of Baron Blackwell to have and to hold unto him for his life Willing and by these Presents granting for Us Our heirs and successors that he may have hold and possess a seat place and voice in the Parliaments and Public Assemblies and Councils of Us Our heirs and successors within Our United Kingdom amongst the Barons And also that he may enjoy and use all the rights privileges pre-eminences immunities and advantages to the degree of a Baron duly and of right belonging which Barons of Our United Kingdom have heretofore used and enjoyed or as they do at present use and enjoy In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent Witness Ourself at Westminster in the afternoon of the second day of October in the forty-sixth year of Our Reign BY WARRANT UNDER THE QUEEN’S SIGN MANUAL APPENDIX 3 ELIZABETH THE SECOND by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith To all Lords Spiritual and Temporal and all other Our Subjects whatsoever to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Know Ye that We of Our especial grace certain knowledge and mere motion in pursuance of the Life Peerages Act 1958 and of all other powers in that behalf Us enabling do by these Presents advance create and prefer Our right trusty and well beloved Navnit Dholakia Esquire Officer of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire to the state degree style dignity title and honour of Baron Dholakia of Waltham Brooks in Our County of West Sussex And for Us Our heirs and successors do appoint give and grant unto him the said name state degree style dignity title and honour of Baron Dholakia to have and to hold unto him for his life Willing and by these Presents granting for Us Our heirs and successors that he may have hold and possess a seat place and voice in the Parliaments and Public Assemblies and Councils of Us Our heirs and successors within Our United Kingdom amongst the Barons And also that he may enjoy and use all the rights privileges pre-eminences immunities and advantages to the degree of a Baron duly and of right belonging which Barons of Our United Kingdom have heretofore used and enjoyed or as they do at present use and enjoy In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent Witness Ourself at Westminster in the afternoon of the twenty-fourth day of October in the forty-sixth year of Our Reign BY WARRANT UNDER THE QUEEN’S SIGN MANUAL