House of Lords Journal 231 (Session 1997-98)

Previous Next Page 768 1997-98 Volume 231       Wednesday 29 April 1998 The House met at half-past two o’clock. The following Lords Spiritual and Temporal were present: Abinger, L. Ackner, L. Acton, L. Addington, L. Addison, V. Ailesbury, M. Ailsa, M. Aldenham, L. Alderdice, L. Aldington, L. Alexander of Tunis, E. Allenby of Megiddo, V. Alport, L. Alton of Liverpool, L. Ampthill, L. Anelay of St. Johns, B. Annaly, L. Annan, L. Archer of Sandwell, L. Archer of Weston-Super-Mare, L. Arran, E. Ashbourne, L. Ashley of Stoke, L. Astor, V. Astor of Hever, L. Attlee, E. Avebury, L. Baker of Dorking, L. Baldwin of Bewdley, E. Balfour, E. Balfour of Inchrye, L. Barnard, L. Barnett, L. Bassam of Brighton, L. Beaumont of Whitley, L. Belhaven and Stenton, L. Bellwin, L. Beloff, L. Berkeley, L. Berners, B. Bethell, L. Biddulph, L. Birdwood, L. Blake, L. Blaker, L. Blatch, B. Blease, L. Bledisloe, V. Blyth, L. Boardman, L. Borrie, L. Boston of Faversham, L. Bowness, L. Brabazon of Tara, L. Bradford, E. Braine of Wheatley, L. Bramall, L. Brentford, V. Bridgeman, V. Bridges, L. Brightman, L. Brigstocke, B. Broadbridge, L. Brooke of Alverthorpe, L. Brooks of Tremorfa, L. Brougham and Vaux, L. Bruce of Donington, L. Bruntisfield, L. Burlison, L. Burnham, L. Butterworth, L. Buxton of Alsa, L. Byford, B. Cadman, L. Caithness, E. Campbell of Alloway, L. Campbell of Croy, L. Carlisle, E. Carnegy of Lour, B. Carnock, L. Carrick, E. Carter, L. Chalfont, L. Charteris of Amisfield, L. Chorley, L. Clancarty, E. Clanwilliam, E. Cledwyn of Penrhos, L. Clifford of Chudleigh, L. Clinton-Davis, L. Cobbold, L. Cochrane of Cults, L. Cockfield, L. Cocks of Hartcliffe, L. Coleraine, L. Colville of Culross, V. Colwyn, L. Congleton, L. Cope of Berkeley, L. Cottesloe, L. Courtown, E. Cox, B. Craig of Radley, L. Cranborne, V. Cranbrook, E. Crathorne, L. Crickhowell, L. Cross, V. Cuckney, L. Cullen of Ashbourne, L. Darcy de Knayth, B. Dartmouth, E. Davidson, V. Davies of Coity, L. Davies of Oldham, L. Dean of Beswick, L. Dean of Harptree, L. Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde, B. Denbigh, E. Denham, L. Denton of Wakefield, B. Desai, L. Dholakia, L. Dilhorne, V. Dixon, L. Dixon-Smith, L. Dormand of Easington, L. Drogheda, E. Dundonald, E. Dunrossil, V. Eden of Winton, L. Effingham, E. Elibank, L. Ellenborough, L. Elles, B. Elliott of Morpeth, L. Elton, L. Erroll, E. Evans of Parkside, L. Exmouth, V. Ezra, L. Falkland, V. Farrington of Ribbleton, B. Ferrers, E. Fitt, L. Flather, B. Fookes, B. Fraser of Carmyllie, L. Freyberg, L. Gage, V. Gainford, L. Gainsborough, E. Gardner of Parkes, B. Garel-Jones, L. Geddes, L. Geraint, L. Gisborough, L. Gladwin of Clee, L. Gladwyn, L. Glanusk, L. Glasgow, E. Glenarthur, L. Glentoran, L. Goodhart, L. Gordon of Strathblane, L. Graham of Edmonton, L. Grantchester, L. Gray of Contin, L. Greenway, L. Gregson, L. Grenfell, L. Grey, E. Hacking, L. Halsbury, E. Hamilton of Dalzell, L. Hankey, L. Harding of Petherton, L. Hardwicke, E. Hardy of Wath, L. Harlech, L. Harmar-Nicholls, L. Harmsworth, L. Harris of Greenwich, L. Harris of High Cross, L. Harrowby, E. Haskel, L. Hayman, B. Hayter, L. Healey, L. Page 769 1997-98 Volume 231 Back to top Henderson of Brompton, L. Henley, L. Higgins, L. Hilton of Eggardon, B. Hindlip, L. Hogg of Cumbernauld, L. Holme of Cheltenham, L. HolmPatrick, L. Home, E. Hooper, B. Hooson, L. Hothfield, L. Howe, E. Howell of Guildford, L. Howie of Troon, L. Hoyle, L. Hughes of Woodside, L. Hunt of Wirral, L. Hylton, L. Hylton-Foster, B. Ilchester, E. Inglewood, L. Ironside, L. Islwyn, L. Janner of Braunstone, L. Jeffreys, L. Jeger, B. Jenkin of Roding, L. Jenkins of Hillhead, L. Jenkins of Putney, L. Johnston of Rockport, L. Jopling, L. Kennet, L. Kilbracken, L. Kilmarnock, L. Kilpatrick of Kincraig, L. Kimball, L. Kingsland, L. Kinloss, Ly. Kinnoull, E. Kintore, E. Kirkhill, L. Kitchener, E. Knight of Collingtree, B. Knights, L. Knutsford, V. Lang of Monkton, L. Lauderdale, E. Lawrence, L. Lawson of Blaby, L. Leathers, V. Leicester, E. Leigh, L. Levy, L. Lincoln, Bp. Lindsey and Abingdon, E. Liverpool, E. Lloyd-George of Dwyfor, E. Lockwood, B. Lofthouse of Pontefract, L. Long, V. Longford, E. Lucas, L. Lucas of Chilworth, L. Ludford, B. Luke, L. Lyell, L. Lytton, E. McIntosh of Haringey, L. Mackay of Ardbrecknish, L. Mackay of Drumadoon, L. Mackie of Benshie, L. McNair, L. McNally, L. Maddock, B. Malmesbury, E. Mancroft, L. Mar, C. Mar and Kellie, E. Marlesford, L. Marsh, L. Masham of Ilton, B. Mason of Barnsley, L. Massereene and Ferrard, V. Mayhew of Twysden, L. Merlyn-Rees, L. Merrivale, L. Mersey, V. Middleton, L. Miller of Hendon, B. Milverton, L. Minto, E. Mishcon, L. Molyneaux of Killead, L. Monkswell, L. Monro of Langholm, L. Monson, L. Montagu of Beaulieu, L. Montague of Oxford, L. Montgomery of Alamein, V. Moran, L. Morton, E. Mottistone, 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. Newton of Braintree, L. Nicholson of Winterbourne, B. Nicol, B. Noel-Buxton, L. Norrie, L. Northbourne, L. Northesk, E. Norton, L. O’Cathain, B. Ogmore, L. Oliver of Aylmerton, L. Onslow of Woking, L. Oppenheim-Barnes, B. Orme, L. Oxford, Bp. Oxfuird, V. Palmer, L. Park of Monmouth, B. Patten, L. Paul, L. Pearson of Rannoch, L. Pender, L. Perry of Walton, L. Perth, E. Peston, L. Peyton of Yeovil, L. Phillips of Ellesmere, L. Pilkington of Oxenford, L. Pitkeathley, B. Platt of Writtle, B. Plummer of St. Marylebone, L. Ponsonby of Shulbrede, L. Porter of Luddenham, L. Prior, L. Prys-Davies, L. Quinton, L. Quirk, L. Ramsay of Cartvale, B. Randall of St. Budeaux, L. Rankeillour, L. Rathcavan, L. Rawlings, B. Razzall, L. Rea, L. Redesdale, L. Rees, L. Renfrew of Kaimsthorn, L. Renton, L. Renton of Mount Harry, L. Renwick, L. Richard, L. Roberts of Conwy, L. Rochester, L. Rodgers of Quarry Bank, L. Rosslyn, E. Rotherwick, L. Rowallan, L. Russell, E. Ryder of Wensum, L. Sainsbury, L. St. John of Bletso, L. St. John of Fawsley, L. Saltoun of Abernethy, Ly. Sandberg, L. Sanderson of Bowden, L. Sandwich, E. Seccombe, B. Sefton of Garston, L. Selborne, E. Selkirk of Douglas, L. Sempill, L. Serota, B. Shannon, E. Sharples, B. Shaughnessy, L. Shaw of Northstead, L. Shepherd, L. Sheppard of Liverpool, L. Shore of Stepney, L. Shrewsbury, E. Simon, V. Simon of Glaisdale, L. Skelmersdale, L. Skidelsky, L. Smith, L. Smith of Gilmorehill, B. Soper, L. Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, L. Stallard, L. Steel of Aikwood, L. Stodart of Leaston, L. Strabolgi, L. Strange, B. Strathclyde, L. Strathcona and Mt. Royal, L. Page 770 1997-98 Volume 231 Back to top Suffolk and Berkshire, E. Swinfen, L. Taverne, L. Taylor of Blackburn, L. Taylor of Gryfe, L. Taylor of Warwick, L. Templeman, L. Teviot, L. Teynham, L. Thomas of Gresford, L. Thomas of Macclesfield, L. Thomson of Monifieth, L. Thurso, V. Tope, L. Trefgarne, L. Turner of Camden, B. Ullswater, V. Varley, L. Vivian, L. Waddington, L. Wakeham, L. Walker of Doncaster, L. Walpole, L. Watson of Invergowrie, L. Waverley, V. Weatherill, L. Westbury, L. Wharton, B. Whitty, L. Wigoder, L. Wilberforce, L. Wilcox, B. Williams of Elvel, L. Williams of Mostyn, L. Wise, L. Wright of Richmond, L. Young, B. PRAYERS were read by the Lord Bishop of Lincoln. 1. Leave of Absence—It was ordered that leave of absence be granted to the Earl Waldegrave for the remainder of this Parliament. Judicial Business 2. Oxnard Financing SA (Respondents) v. Rahn and others (Petitioners)—The petition of Dr. Christian Rahn, Hans-Jakob Biedermann, Martin Haab-Biedermann and Frank Bodmer (Partners in and trading as Rahn & Bodmer) praying for leave to appeal was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee. 3. Commissioners of Customs and Excise (Respondents) v. News International Newspapers Limited (Petitioners)—The petition of News International Newspapers Limited praying for leave to appeal was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee. 4. In re Ismail (Appellant) (application for a writ of Habeas Corpus) (On Appeal from a Divisional Court of the Queen’s Bench Division)—The appeal was set down for hearing and referred to an Appellate Committee. 5. Appeal Committee—The following Order was made pursuant to the 65th Report: Kelley (A.P.) (Petitioner) v. Corston (Respondent)—That the respondent’s costs be paid out of the Legal Aid Fund in accordance with section 18 of the Legal Aid Act 1988, such order to be suspended until 27th May to enable the Legal Aid Board to object if they wish. 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. Merchant Shipping—1996 Protocol to the Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976;   (—) 2. Shipping— (i) Convention 178 concerning the Inspection of Seafarers’ Working and Living Conditions; (—) (ii) Convention 179 concerning the Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers; (—) (iii) Recommendation 187 concerning Seafarers’ Wages and Hours of Work and the Manning of Ships; (—) (iv) Recommendation 186 concerning the Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers; (—) (v) Convention 180 concerning Seafarers’ Hours of Work and the Manning of Ships; (—) (vi) Recommendation 185 concerning the Inspection of Seafarers’ Working and Living Conditions; (—) 3. Finance—Treasury Minute on the 9th and 13th to 20th Reports of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee;   (3936) 4. Defence—Notification of a Proposal to accept a Non-Statutory Contingent Liability;   (—) 5. Debt—Exchange of Notes between the United Kingdom and Tanzania concerning Certain Commercial Debts;   (3933) 6. Gas—Agreement between the United Kingdom and Belgium relating to the Transmission of Natural Gas through a pipeline between the United Kingdom and Belgium.   (3943) Page 771 1997-98 Volume 231 Back to top 7. Negative Instrument—The following instrument was laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table: Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations 1998, laid under the European Communities Act 1972. (1135) 8. Paper not subject to parliamentary proceedings—The following paper was laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table: Statement of Guarantee given by the Secretary of State for Health on loans proposed to be raised by the Rotherham General Hospitals NHS Trust, laid under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. Select Committee Report 9. Delegated Powers and Deregulation—The following report from the Select Committee was made and ordered to be printed: 17th Report, on the following bills: School Standards and Framework Bill; Northern Ireland (Elections) Bill. (HL Paper 99) Public Business 10. Business of the House—It was moved by the Lord Privy Seal (Lord Richard) that the debate on the motion in the name of the Viscount Falkland set down for today shall be limited to 3 hours and that in the name of the Earl Russell to 1½ hours; the motion was agreed to. 11. Government of Wales Bill—It was moved by the Lord Williams of Mostyn that it be an instruction to the Committee of the Whole House to whom the Government of Wales Bill has been committed that they consider the bill in the following order: Clauses 1 and 2 Schedule 1 Clauses 3 to 22 Schedule 2 Clauses 23 to 29 Schedule 3 Clauses 30 to 75 Schedule 4 Clauses 76 to 106 Schedule 5 Clause 107 Schedule 6 Clauses 108 to 111 Schedule 7 Clauses 112 and 113 Schedule 8 Clauses 114 to 126 Schedule 9 Clauses 127 and 128 Schedule 10 Clause 129 Schedule 11 Clause 130 Schedule 12 Clauses 131 to 141 Schedule 13 Clauses 142 to 145 Schedule 14 Clauses 146 to 152 Schedule 15 Clauses 153 to 159; the motion was agreed to. 12. Conservation and tourism (3-hour debate)—It was moved by the Viscount Falkland that there be laid before the House papers relating to the case for a balance between the conservation of our cultural and environmental heritage and the commercial imperative of tourism; after debate, the motion was (by leave of the House) withdrawn. 13. Campsfield House Detention Centre (1½-hour debate)—It was moved by the Earl Russell that there be laid before the House papers relating to Sir David Ramsbotham’s report on the terms and conditions under which asylum seekers and immigrants are detained at Campsfield House Detention Centre; after debate, the motion was (by leave of the House) withdrawn. 14. Property rights in eastern Europe—The Lord Harris of High Cross asked Her Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take to encourage eastern European candidate Member States of the European Union to pursue domestic policies which respect private property rights and to provide for the restitution of property confiscated from British nationals, in conformity with Resolution 1096 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; after debate, the question was answered by the Lord Whitty. The House was adjourned at twenty-five minutes past eight o’clock till tomorrow, two o’clock for judicial business, three o’clock for public business.