HOUSE OF LORDS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Die Martis 27° Julii 1999
The House met at half-past two o’clock.
PRAYERS were read by the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells.
1. Lord Rennard—Christopher John Rennard Esquire, MBE, having been created Baron Rennard, of Wavertree in the County of Merseyside, for life by Letters Patent dated in the forenoon of 21st July 1999, was introduced between the Baroness Maddock and the Lord Clement-Jones, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod and Garter King of Arms preceding; and took and subscribed the oath pursuant to statute.
2. Baroness Hanham—Mrs. Joan Brownlow Hanham, CBE, having been created Baroness Hanham, of Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, for life by Letters Patent dated in the afternoon of 15th July 1999, was introduced between the Baroness Miller of Hendon and the Lord Hanningfield, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod and Garter King of Arms preceding; and took and subscribed the oath pursuant to statute.
3. Oath—George William Earl of Coventry took and subscribed the oath pursuant to statute.
Judicial Business
4. White (A.P.) (Petitioner) v. White and the Motor Insurers Bureau (Respondents) (England)—The appeal of Brian White was presented and it was ordered that in accordance with Standing Order VI the statement and appendix thereto be lodged on or before 7th September next.
5. Eastbourne Town Radio Cars Association (Appellants) v. Commissioners of Customs and Excise (Respondents) (England)—The appeal of Eastbourne Town Radio Cars Association was presented and it was ordered that in accordance with Standing Order VI the statement and appendix thereto be lodged on or before 7th September next.
6. Hamilton (Respondent) v. Al Fayed (Appellant) (England)—The appeal of Mohamed Al Fayed was presented and it was ordered that in accordance with Standing Order VI the statement and appendix thereto be lodged on or before 7th September next.
7. Turner (Respondent) v. Grovit and others (Petitioners)—The petition of Felix Fareed Ismail Grovit, Harada Limited and Changepoint SA praying for leave to appeal was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee (lodged 28th June).
8. Smithkline Beecham Biologicals SA (Respondents) v. Connaught Laboratories Inc (Petitioners)—The petition of Connaught Laboratories Inc praying for leave to appeal was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee.
9. Birmingham City Council (Respondents) v. Clarke (A.P.) (Petitioner)—The petition of Anthony Richard Clarke praying for an extension of time within which the petition may be lodged and for leave to appeal in accordance with the Administration of Justice Act 1960, was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee. The petitioner’s legal aid certificate was lodged.
10. Regina v. Housing Benefit Review Board of the City of Westminster (Petitioners) ex parte Mehanne (A.P.) (Respondent)—The respondent’s legal aid certificate was lodged.
11. Appeal Committee—The following Order was made pursuant to the 99th Report, Session 1997-98—
Bogg and others (A.P.) (Petitioners) v. Bruce Hebelthwayte Raper and others (Respondents)—The costs order made on 11th November 1998 was vacated. It was ordered that the costs of the second and third petitioners be taxed in accordance with the Legal Aid Act 1988; and that the respondents be at liberty to apply for their costs in accordance with directions 5.1(d) in respect of the first petitioner and 5.1 (c) in respect of the second and third petitioners and, if the application is granted, that the amount thereof be certified by the Clerk of the Parliaments if not agreed between the parties.
12. Appeal Committee—The 59th Report from the Appeal Committee was agreed to and the following Orders were made—
Surzur Overseas Limited (Respondents) v. Koros and others (Petitioners)—That the respondents be invited to lodge objections by 10th August next.
Württembergische Aktiengesellschaft Versicherungs-Beteiligungsgesellchaft (formerly Württembergische Feuerversicherung AG) and another (Petitioners) v. Home Insurance Company (Respondents)—That leave to appeal be refused; that the respondents be at liberty to apply for their costs in accordance with direction 5.1(d) and, if the application is granted, that the amount thereof be certified by the Clerk of the Parliaments if not agreed between the parties.
Commissioners of Customs and Excise (Respondents) v. Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (Petitioners)—That the respondents be invited to lodge objections by 10th August next.
Regina v. Housing Benefit Review Board of the City of Westminster (Petitioners) ex parte Mehanne (A.P.) (Respondent)—That the respondent be invited to lodge objections by 10th August next.
Regina v. Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Respondents) ex parte Dundon (Petitioner)—That leave to appeal be refused.
Designers Guild Limited (Petitioners) v. Russell Williams (Textiles) Limited (trading as Washington DC) (Respondents)—That the respondents be invited to lodge objections by 10th August next.
13. Her Majesty’s Attorney General (Respondent) v. Blake (Appellant) and another—The 60th Report from the Appeal Committee was agreed to. It was ordered that payment of fees by the appellant be suspended until further order.
14. Appeal Committee—The 61st Report from the Appeal Committee was agreed to and the following Order was made—
That there be issued amendments to Directions 1, 4, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 25 and 42 of the Directions applicable to Civil Appeals; that there be issued amendments to Directions 3, 5, 12, 15, 16, 19 and 20 of the Directions applicable to Criminal Appeals; and that there be issued a new Direction, 9A, to the Forms of Bills of Costs applicable to judicial taxations.
Papers
15. Command Papers—The following papers were presented to the House by command of Her Majesty and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Competition Commission—Report on the merger situation involving NTL Communications Corp and Newcastle United plc; (4411)
2. Standards in Public Life—Funding of Political Parties in the United Kingdom: The Government’s proposals for legislation in response to the 5th report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; (4413)
3. Shipping—Government response to the report of the House of Commons Select Committee on the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs, on the future of the United Kingdom shipping industry; (4423)
4. Finance—Public expenditure 1998-99 provisional outturn. (4416)
16. Affirmative Instruments—The following instruments were laid before the House for approval by resolution and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Draft Working Time Regulations 1999;
2. Draft Financial Services Act 1986 (Restriction of Exemption) Order 1999.
17. Negative Instruments—The following instruments were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. (i) Banking (Gibraltar) Regulations 1999— (2094)
(ii) Postal Services Regulations 1999— (2107)
laid under the European Communities Act 1972;
2. Care of Places of Worship Rules 1999, laid under the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991; (2111)
3. Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 1999, laid under the Synodical Government Measure 1969; (2112)
4. (i) Parochial Fees Order 1999— (2113)
(ii) Legal Officers (Annual Fees) Order 1999— (2108)
(iii) Ecclesiastical Judges, Legal Officers and Others (Fees) Order 1999— (2110)
laid under the Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1986;
5. Quarries Regulations 1999, laid under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; (2024)
6. Disability Discrimination (Description of Insurance Services) Regulations 1999, laid under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; (2114)
7. Medicines (Aristolochia) (Emergency Prohibition) Order 1999, laid under the Medicines Act 1968; (2109)
8. Parliamentary Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 1999, laid under the Parliamentary and other Pensions Act 1987; (2100)
9. European Parliamentary (United Kingdom Representatives) Pensions (Additional Voluntary Contributions Scheme) (Amendment) Order 1999, laid under the European Parliament (Pay and Pensions) Act 1979; (2101)
10. (i) Legal Aid in Criminal and Care Proceedings (General) (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 1999— (2123)
(ii) Legal Aid in Criminal and Care Proceedings (Costs) (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 1999— (2124)
laid under the Legal Aid Act 1988.
18. Papers not subject to parliamentary proceedings—The following papers were laid before the House and ordered to lie on the Table:
1. Forgery and Counterfeiting (Protected Coins) Order 1999, laid under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981; (2095)
2. The Queen’s Regulations for the Royal Air Force (4th edition) Amendment 2, laid under the Air Force (Constitution) Act 1917;
3. (i) Change 1 to the Royal Fleet Reserve and Recall Reserve (Naval and Marine) Regulations—
(ii) Change 4 to the Regulations for the Naval and Marine Reserve—
laid under the Reserve Forces Act 1996;
4. Report for 1998 under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, laid under that Act;
5. Report for 1998 under the Insurance Companies Act 1982, laid under that Act;
6. Reports and Accounts for 1998-99 of:
(i) Office for National Statistics—
(ii) Ministry of Defence Police—
(iii) Employment Service—
(v) Accounts for 1998-99 of the United Kingdom Debt Management Office,
laid under the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921;
7. Report for 1998-99 of the Friendly Societies Commission, laid under the Friendly Societies Act 1992;
8. Report for 1998-99 of the Building Societies Commission, laid under the Building Societies Act 1986;
9. Report and Accounts for 1998-99 of the Environment Agency, laid under the Environment Act 1995;
10. Report for 1998-99 of the Wales Tourist Board, laid under the Development of Tourism Act 1969;
11. Report and Accounts for 1998-99 of the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation, laid under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980;
12. Report for 1998-99 of Scottish Enterprise, laid under the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990;
13. Report and Accounts for 1998-99 of the Scottish Prison Service, laid under the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989;
14. Report for 1998 of the Registrar General for Scotland, laid under the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965;
15. (i) Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Amendment) Scheme 1999—
(ii) Civil Service Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Scheme 1999—
laid under the Superannuation Act 1972.
Select Committee Reports
19. Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England—The Report from the Select Committee was made; it was ordered that the Report be printed, together with the Minutes of Evidence. (HL Paper 96)
20. Freedom of Information—The Report from the Select Committee on the draft Freedom of Information Bill was made; it was ordered that the Report be printed, together with the Minutes of Evidence. (HL Paper 97)
21. European Communities—The following Reports from the Select Committee were made and ordered to be printed, together with the Minutes of Evidence:
Biodiversity in the European Union: Interim Report (UK Measures); (18th Report-HL Paper 100)
Prospects for the Tampere Special European Council. (19th Report-HL Paper 101)
22. Local Government (Organisation and Standards)—The Report from the Joint Committee on the draft Local Government (Organisation and Standards) Bill was made; it was ordered to be printed, together with the Minutes of Evidence. (HL Paper 102)
Public Business
23. Criminal Cases Review (Insanity) Bill [HL]—The bill was returned from the Commons agreed to.
24. Employment Relations Bill—The bill was returned from the Commons with the Lords amendment in lieu agreed to.
25. Local Government Bill—The bill was returned from the Commons with the amendments agreed to.
26. House of Lords Bill—It was moved by the Lord Mayhew of Twysden that the question whether the House of Lords Bill (as amended on Report) would, if enacted, affect the right of those hereditary peers who have answered to their Writ of Summons before the bill receives Royal Assent to continue to sit and vote throughout the Parliament in which the bill is enacted be referred to the Committee for Privileges; after debate, the motion was agreed to (see division list 1).
27. Royal Assent—The Lord Chancellor notified the Queen’s Assent to the following Acts:
| Finance Act | c. | 16 |
| Disability Rights Commission Act | c. | 17 |
| Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act | c. | 18 |
| Company and Business Names (Chamber of Commerce, Etc.) Act | c. | 19 |
| Commonwealth Development Corporation Act | c. | 20 |
| Football (Offences and Disorder) Act | c. | 21 |
| Access to Justice Act | c. | 22 |
| Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act | c. | 23 |
| Pollution Prevention and Control Act | c. | 24 |
| Criminal Cases Review (Insanity) Act | c. | 25 |
| Employment Relations Act | c | 26 |
| Local Government Act | c | 27 |
28. House of Lords Bill—It was moved by the Lord Gray that the question whether the House of Lords Bill (as amended on Report) would, if enacted, breach the provisions of the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland be referred to the Committee for Privileges; after debate, the motion was agreed to (see division list 2).
29. Greater London Authority Bill— The House again resolved itself into a Committee upon the bill; amendments were moved and (by leave of the Committee) withdrawn; amendments were agreed to; the House was resumed after clause 299 stood part.
The House was adjourned at sixteen minutes before midnight
till tomorrow, half-past two o’clock.
MICHAEL DAVIES
Cler: Parliamentor: | 
