Opposition Day – in the House of Commons at 10:43 pm on 24 January 2001.
That this House takes note of European Union Document No. COM(99)643, a Commission Communication entitled 'Community Support Plan to Combat Doping in Sport', European Union Document No. COM(99)644, the Helsinki Report on Sport and the unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 23rd November 2000, submitted by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport relating to the Declaration on Sport; considers that the special nature and role of sport should be recognised in applying Community rules to sporting activity; and supports the Government's intention to ensure that Europe is effectively represented in the deliberations of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The House divided: Ayes 318, Noes 5.
| Division No. 79] | |
| AYES | |
| Abbott, Ms Diane | Clapham, Michael |
| Adams, Mrs Irene (Paisley N) | Clark, Rt Hon Dr David (S Shields) |
| Ainger, Nick | Clarke, Charles (Norwich S) |
| Ainsworth, Robert (Cov'try NE) | Clelland, David |
| Allan, Richard | Coffey, Ms Ann |
| Allen, Graham | Coleman, Iain |
| Anderson, Rt Hon Donald (Swansea E) | Colman, Tony |
| Connany, Michael | |
| Anderson, Janet (Rossendale) | Cook, Frank (Stockton N) |
| Ashdown, Rt Hon Paddy | Cook, Rt Hon Robin (Livingston) |
| Atherton, Ms Candy | Cooper, Yvette |
| Atkins, Charlotte | Corbett, Robin |
| Bailey, Adrian | Corbyn, Jeremy |
| Ballard, Jackie | Cousins, Jim |
| Banks, Tony | Crausby, David |
| Barron, Kevin | Cummings, John |
| Bayley, Hugh | Curtis-Thomas, Mrs Claire |
| Beard, Nigel | Darling, Rt Hon Alistair |
| Beckett, Rt Hon Mrs Margaret | Darvill, Keith |
| Begg, Miss Anne | Davey, Valerie (Bristol W) |
| Beith, Rt Hon A J | Davidson, Ian |
| Bell, Martin (Tatton) | Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli) |
| Bell, Stuart (Middlesbrough) | Davies, Geraint (Croydon C) |
| Benn, Hilary (Leeds C) | Dawson, Hilton |
| Bennett, Andrew F | Dean, Mrs Janet |
| Benton, Joe | Denham, John |
| Bermingham, Gerald | Dismore, Andrew |
| Berry, Roger | Dobbin, Jim |
| Betts, Clive | Donohoe, Brian H |
| Blackman, Liz | Doran, Frank |
| Blair, Rt Hon Tony | Dowd, Jim |
| Blears, Ms Hazel | Drew, David |
| Blizzard, Bob | Drown, Ms Julia |
| Blunkett, Rt Hon David | Dunwoody, Mrs Gwyneth |
| Borrow, David | Eagle, Maria (L'pool Garston) |
| Bradley, Keith (Withington) | Edwards, Huw |
| Bradshaw, Ben | Efford, Clive |
| Brand, Dr Peter | Ellman, Mrs Louise |
| Breed, Colin | Ennis, Jeff |
| Brown, Rt Hon Nick (Newcastle E) | Ewing, Mrs Margaret |
| Brown, Russell (Dumfries) | Fearn, Ronnie |
| Burden, Richard | Fitzpatrick, Jim |
| Burnett, John | Fitzsimons, Mrs Lorna |
| Burstow, Paul | Flight, Howard |
| Byers, Rt Hon Stephen | Flint, Caroline |
| Cable, Dr Vincent | Foster, Rt Hon Derek |
| Caborn, Rt Hon Richard | Foster, Don (Bath) |
| Campbell, Mrs Anne (C'bridge) | Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings) |
| Campbell, Rt Hon Menzies (NE Fife) | Foster, Michael J (Worcester) |
| Galloway, George | |
| Campbell, Ronnie (Blyth V) | Gapes, Mike |
| Campbell-Savours, Dale | Gardiner, Barry |
| Caplin, Ivor | George, Andrew (St Ives) |
| Casale, Roger | Gibson, Dr Ian |
| Caton, Martin | Gidley, Sandra |
| Cawsey, Ian | Gilroy, Mrs Linda |
| Godsiff, Roger | McAvoy, Thomas |
| Goggins, Paul | McCafferty, Ms Chris |
| Golding, Mrs Llin | McCartney, Rt Hon Ian (Makerfield) |
| Griffiths, Nigel (Edinburgh S) | |
| Griffiths, Win (Bridgend) | McCrea, Dr William |
| Grocott, Bruce | Macdonald, Calum |
| Grogan, John | McDonnell, John |
| Gummer, Rt Hon John | McFall, John |
| Hain, Peter | McGrady, Eddie |
| Hall, Mike (Weaver Vale) | McIsaac, Shona |
| Hall, Patrick (Bedford) | Mackinlay, Andrew |
| Hamilton, Fabian (Leeds NE) | Maclennan, Rt Hon Robert |
| Hanson, David | McNulty, Tony |
| Harman, Rt Hon Ms Harriet | MacShane, Denis |
| Harris, Dr Evan | Mactaggart, Fiona |
| Harvey, Nick | McWalter, Tony |
| Healey, John | McWilliam, John |
| Heath, David (Somerton & Frome) | Mahon, Mrs Alice |
| Henderson, Ivan (Harwich) | Mallaber, Judy |
| Hendrick, Mark | Marsden, Gordon (Blackpool S) |
| Hepburn, Stephen | Marshall, David (Shettleston) |
| Hesford, Stephen | Marshall-Andrews, Robert |
| Hewitt, Ms Patricia | Maxton, John |
| Hill, Keith | Meacher, Rt Hon Michael |
| Hodge, Ms Margaret | Merron, Gillian |
| Hoey, Kate | Michael, Rt Hon Alun |
| Hoon, Rt Hon Geoffrey | Michie, Bill (Shef'ld Heeley) |
| Hope, Phil | Michie, Mrs Ray (Argyll & Bute) |
| Hopkins, Kelvin | Milburn, Rt Hon Alan |
| Howarth, Rt Hon Alan (Newport E) | Miller, Andrew |
| Howarth, George (Knowsley N) | Mitchell, Austin |
| Howells, Dr Kim | Moffatt, Laura |
| Hughes, Kevin (Doncaster N) | Moonie, Dr Lewis |
| Hughes, Simon (Southwark N) | Moore, Michael |
| Humble, Mrs Joan | Moran, Ms Margaret |
| Hunter, Andrew | Morgan, Ms Julie (Cardiff N) |
| Hutton, John | Morley, Elliot |
| Iddon, Dr Brian | Morris, Rt Hon Ms Estelle (B'ham Yardley) |
| Illsley, Eric | |
| Ingram, Rt Hon Adam | Mountford, Kali |
| Jackson, Ms Glenda (Hampstead) | Mowlam, Rt Hon Marjorie |
| Jackson, Helen (Hillsborough) | Mudie, George |
| Jamieson, David | Mullin, Chris |
| Jenkins, Brian | Murphy, Denis (Wansbeck) |
| Johnson, Alan (Hull W & Hessle) | Naysmith, Dr Doug |
| Johnson, Miss Melanie (Welwyn Hatfield) | Norris, Dan |
| Oaten, Mark | |
| Jones, Rt Hon Barry (Alyn) | O'Brien, Bill (Normanton) |
| Jones, Helen (Warrington N) | Olner, Bill |
| Jones, Jon Owen (Cardiff C) | O'Neill, Martin |
| Jones, Nigel (Cheltenham) | Öpik, Lembit |
| Joyce, Eric | Palmer, Dr Nick |
| Keeble, Ms Sally | Pearson, Ian |
| Keen, Alan (Feltham & Heston) | Pickthall, Colin |
| Keen, Ann (Brentford & Isleworth) | Pike, Peter L |
| Keetch, Paul | Pond, Chris |
| Kennedy, Rt Hon Charles (Ross Skye & Inverness W) | Pope, Greg |
| Prentice, Ms Bridget (Lewisham E) | |
| Kennedy, Jane (Wavertree) | Prentice, Gordon (Pendle) |
| Khabra, Piara S | Primarolo, Dawn |
| Kidney, David | Prosser, Gwyn |
| Kilfoyle, Peter | Purchase, Ken |
| King, Andy (Rugby & Kenilworth) | Quinn, Lawrie |
| Kumar, Dr Ashok | Rammell, Bill |
| Ladyman, Dr Stephen | Raynsford, Nick |
| Lammy, David | Robertson, John (Glasgow Anniesland) |
| Lawrence, Mrs Jackie | |
| Lepper, David | Robinson, Geoffrey (Cov'try NW) |
| Leslie, Christopher | Roche, Mrs Barbara |
| Levitt, Tom | Rooker, Rt Hon Jeff |
| Lewis, Ivan (Bury S) | Rooney, Terry |
| Lewis, Terry (Worsley) | Ross, Ernie (Dundee W) |
| Liddell, Rt Hon Mrs Helen | Rowlands, Ted |
| Linton, Martin | Roy, Frank |
| Lock, David | Ruane, Chris |
| Love, Andrew | Ruddock, Joan |
| Russell, Bob (Colchester) | Thomas, Gareth (Clwyd W) |
| Sanders, Adrian | Timms, Stephen |
| Sarwar, Mohammad | Todd, Mark |
| Sawford, Phil | Tonge, Dr Jenny |
| Shaw, Jonathan | Touhig, Don |
| Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert | Trickett, Jon |
| Short, Rt Hon Clare | Truswell, Paul |
| Simpson, Alan (Nottingham S) | Turner, Dennis (Wolverh'ton SE) |
| Skinner, Dennis | Turner, Dr George (NW Norfolk) |
| Smith, Angela (Basildon) | Turner, Neil (Wigan) |
| Smith, Rt Hon Chris (Islington S) | Twigg, Stephen (Enfield) |
| Smith, Jacqui (Redditch) | Tyler, Paul |
| Smith, Llew (Blaenau Gwent) | Tynan, Bill |
| Smith, Sir Robert (WAb'd'ns) | Watts, David |
| Smyth, Rev Martin (Belfast S) | Webb, Steve |
| Southworth, Ms Helen | White, Brian |
| Spellar, John | Wicks, Malcolm |
| Spicer, Sir Michael | Wigley, Rt Hon Dafydd |
| Squire, Ms Rachel | Williams, Rt Hon Alan (Swansea W) |
| Starkey, Dr Phyllis | Williams, Alan W (E Carmarthen) |
| Steinberg, Gerry | Williams, Mrs Betty (Conwy) |
| Stewart, David (Inverness E) | Wills, Michael |
| Stewart, Ian (Eccles) | Wilson, Brian |
| Strang, Rt Hon Dr Gavin | Winnick, David |
| Straw, Rt Hon Jack | Wood, Mike |
| Stuart, Ms Gisela | Woolas, Phil |
| Stunell, Andrew | Worthington, Tony |
| Sutclifte, Gerry | Wright, Anthony D (Gt Yarmouth) |
| Taylor, David (NW Leics) | Wright, Tony (Cannock) |
| Taylor, Matthew (Truro) | Wyatt, Derek |
| Temple-Morris, Peter | |
| NOES | |
| Hogg, Rt Hon Douglas | Taylor, Sir Teddy |
| Redwood, Rt Hon John | Winterton, Nicholas (Macclesfield) |
| Shepherd, Richard | |
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
The House of Commons votes by dividing. Those voting Aye (yes) to any proposition walk through the division lobby to the right of the Speaker and those voting no through the lobby to the left. In each of the lobbies there are desks occupied by Clerks who tick Members' names off division lists as they pass through. Then at the exit doors the Members are counted by two Members acting as tellers. The Speaker calls for a vote by announcing "Clear the Lobbies". In the House of Lords "Clear the Bar" is called. Division Bells ring throughout the building and the police direct all Strangers to leave the vicinity of the Members’ Lobby. They also walk through the public rooms of the House shouting "division". MPs have eight minutes to get to the Division Lobby before the doors are closed. Members make their way to the Chamber, where Whips are on hand to remind the uncertain which way, if any, their party is voting. Meanwhile the Clerks who will take the names of those voting have taken their place at the high tables with the alphabetical lists of MPs' names on which ticks are made to record the vote. When the tellers are ready the counting process begins - the recording of names by the Clerk and the counting of heads by the tellers. When both lobbies have been counted and the figures entered on a card this is given to the Speaker who reads the figures and announces "So the Ayes [or Noes] have it". In the House of Lords the process is the same except that the Lobbies are called the Contents Lobby and the Not Contents Lobby. Unlike many other legislatures, the House of Commons and the House of Lords have not adopted a mechanical or electronic means of voting. This was considered in 1998 but rejected. Divisions rarely take less than ten minutes and those where most Members are voting usually take about fifteen. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P9 at the UK Parliament site.
