Monday, 13 March 2000
The House met at half-past Two o'clock
[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]
The Secretary of State was asked—
What progress he has made in curbing the activities of unscrupulous immigration advisers. [112572]
What plans he has to change the licensing hours for public houses and clubs. [112573]
What steps he is taking to enable new technology to be used for voting in national and local elections. [112574]
If he will make a statement on his plans to change the name of the Probation Service. [112575]
What forecast he has made of the total number of police officers in England and Wales at 31 March. [112576]
What recent initiatives he has taken to reduce the incidence of paedophile crime; and if he will make a statement. [112577]
If he will make a statement on the procedure for supervising the activities of the intelligence services. [112578]
If he will postpone his plans to change the right to jury trial until after the publication of the review of criminal justice under the chairmanship of Sir Robin Auld. [112579]
How many reparation orders have been made since September 1998. [112581]
How many DNA tests his Department has carried out in Norfolk in the last two years; and with what results. [112583]
What steps he is taking to reduce absence through sickness in the Prison Service. [112585]
If he will make a statement about the asylum statistics for 1999. [112586]
What recent estimate he has made of the number of clandestine immigrants brought into the United Kingdom in heavy goods vehicles. [112587]
With permission, Madam Speaker, I should like to make a statement on the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Thompson and Venables, who were convicted of the murder of...
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I believe that there is growing concern in the country about the marginalisation of Parliament and the inability of the House to hold the Executive to account....
As amended in the Committee and the Standing Committee, considered.
—(1) The Commission— (a) may participate with any relevant local authority in the joint submission of proposals falling within section 10(1) of the Representation of the People Act...
'.—(1) The following provisions have effect for the purposes of this Part.
—(1) The Scottish Parliament may by order make provision for the transfer to the Commission of any one or more functions of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland (in this...
'.—The following shall be inserted after section 379 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (interpretation of sections 369 to 378)—
379AA.—(1) Tax relief shall be available to an individual (the donor) in accordance with this section on qualifying political donations made by him of up to £500 in any year of assessment.
'.—(1) The Representation of the People Act 1985 (as amended by the Representation of the People Act 2000) is amended in accordance with this section.
I beg to move amendment No. 84, in page 98, line 30, at end insert— '(8) Until such time as the Commission may determine, the Commission's chief executive appointed under sub-paragraph (7)...
I beg to move amendment No. 3, in page 2, line 6, at end insert— 'the Speaker of the House of Commons, who shall be the chairman of the Committee, and the following other members, namely'.
Amendments made: No. 86, in page 103, line 20, leave out "Commission" and insert "Committee".
Amendment made: No. 5, in page 2, line 36, leave out— 'chairman of the Speaker's Committee' and insert— 'Speaker of the House of Commons'.—[Mr. Tipping.]
Amendment made: No. 6, in page 4, line 21, at end insert— '(4A) Each report made by the Commission under this section shall be published by them in such manner as they may...
Amendment made: No. 7, in page 5, line 7, at end insert— '(i) an order under section 17A(3) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (free delivery of election addresses at elections to the...
I beg to move amendment No. 8, in page 6, line 45, leave out from "broadcasts," to end of line 5 on page 7.
I beg to move amendment No. 9, in page 8, leave out lines 12 and 13 and insert— '(a) current electoral systems in the United Kingdom and any pending such systems, together with such matters...
I beg to move amendment No. 11, in page 17, line 27, leave out subsection (4) and insert—
I beg to move amendment No. 12, in page 22, line 13, leave out "£1,000" and insert "£5,000".
Amendment made: No. 14, in page 23, line 29, after "all", insert "reasonable".—[Mr. Tipping.]
I beg to move amendment No. 156, in page 27, leave out line 13. I do not know what Mrs. Brown would think of this amendment.
It being Ten o'clock, the debate stood adjourned.
I beg to move amendment No. 162, in page 29, line 28, at end add— '(g) an individual who is by reason only of his age incapable of being included in any register of electors and is...
I beg to move amendment No. 16, in page 35, line 14, at end insert—
Amendments made: No. 90, in page 109, line 5, leave out— 'the following provisions of this paragraph' and insert— 'sub-paragraphs (2) to (8) and (10) below'.
Amendment made: No. 17, in page 38, line 3, leave out subsection (8) and insert— '(8) Section 57(9) applies for the purposes of this section.'.—[Mr. Pope.]
Amendments made: No. 18, in page 38, line 10, after "(2)", insert ", (2A)".
I beg to move amendment No. 22, in page 40, line 2, after "6" insert "(a) or (c)".
Motion made and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118(6) (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation),That the draft Milk Development Council (Amendment) Order 2000, a copy...
Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118(6) (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation),That the draft Appropriation (Northern Ireland) Order 2000, which was...
Motion made, and Question proposed,That, at the sitting on 14th March, Standing Order No. 55 (Questions on voting of estimates, &c.) shall apply as if the words '(aa) supplementary votes on...
Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—[Mr. Pope.]
Debates in the House of Commons are an opportunity for MPs from all parties to scrutinise government legislation and raise important local, national or topical issues.
And sometimes to shout at each other.