HOUSE OF LORDS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Die Mercurii 4° Novembris 1998
The House met at half-past two o’clock.
PRAYERS were read by the Lord Bishop of Lichfield.
Judicial Business
1. British Telecommunications plc (Petitioners) v. Nottinghamshire County Council (Respondents) (lodged 3rd November)— The petition of British Telecommunications plc praying for leave to appeal in accordance with the Administration of Justice Act 1960 was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee.
2. Commissioners of Customs and Excise (Appellants) v. British Telecommunications plc (Respondents)— The petition of the appellants praying that the time for lodging the statement and appendix and setting down the cause for hearing might be extended to 16th December next (the agents for the respondents consenting thereto) was presented; and it was ordered as prayed.
Papers
3. Command Papers—The following papers were presented to the House by command of Her Majesty and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Fire Services—Report for 1997-98 of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire Services for Scotland; (4086)
2. Finance—Treasury Minute on the 61st Report of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee. (4075)
4. Affirmative Instruments—The following instruments were laid before the House for approval by resolution and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Draft Parliamentary Constituencies (England) (Miscellaneous Changes) Order 1998;
2. Draft Jobseeker’s Allowance Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 1998.
5. Negative Instruments—The following instruments were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Draft Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park (Vehicle Parking) (Amendment) Regulations 1999, laid under the Parks Regulation (Amendment) Act 1926; (—)
2. Magistrates’ Courts Committees (Northumbria) Amalgamation Order 1998, laid under the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. (2707)
6. Paper not subject to parliamentary proceedings—The following paper was laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
Report of the Boundary Commission for England, laid under the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986.
Select Committee Report
7. Science and Technology—The 9th Report from the Select Committee, Cannabis: the scientific and medical evidence, was made; it was ordered that the Report be printed, together with the Minutes of Evidence. (HL Paper 151)
Public Business
8. European Parliamentary Elections Bill—The Commons reasons were considered; a motion that the House do insist on a Lords amendment was agreed to (see division list); the remaining Lords amendments were insisted on; a Committee was appointed to propose reasons for such insistence.
The Lords following were named of the Committee:
Mackay of Ardbrecknish, L.
The Committee reported that they had proposed the following reason:
“Because electors should be able to vote for the individual party candidate of their choice.”
The report was agreed to and the bill was returned to the Commons with reasons.
9. Regional Development Agencies Bill—The report was received; amendments were moved and (by leave of the House) withdrawn; amendments were agreed to; it was ordered that the bill be printed as amended. (HL Bill 161)
10. Working Time Regulations 1998—It was moved by the Lord Alton of Liverpool that an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that the Regulations (S.I. 1998/1833), laid before the House on 30th July, be annulled; after debate, the motion was (by leave of the House) withdrawn.
The House was adjourned at a quarter past nine o’clock
till tomorrow, three o’clock.
MICHAEL DAVIES
Cler: Parliamentor:
| 
