Orders of the Day – in the House of Commons at 5:45 pm on 10 May 2006.
Votes in this debate
Amendment proposed: No. 82, in page 73, line 18, at end insert—
'Referendums on proposals to alter police areas
20A After section 33 (Objections to alterations proposed by Secretary of State) there is inserted—
"33A Referendums on proposals to alter police areas
(1) Before making an order under section 32 the Secretary of State shall by order cause a referendum to be held in every area affected about the proposed alteration in police areas.
(2) The Secretary of State shall make an order under subsection (1)—
(a) in relation to a proposed alteration made under section 32(3)(a), after he has received a request under that subsection;
(b) in relation to a proposed alteration made under section 32(3)(b), after he has given further notice to objectors under section 33(4)(b).
(3) The question to be asked in a referendum to be held in pursuance of an order under subsection (1) above shall be agreed by—
(a) the Secretary of State,
(b) each police authority affected by the proposed alteration, and
(c) the Electoral Commission.
and specified in the order.
(4) The Secretary of State shall, in consultation with—
(a) each police authority affected by the proposed alteration, and
(b) the Electoral Commission
ensure that an order made under subsection (1) above makes such provision as is necessary to secure the proper conduct of a referendum.
(5) No order shall be made under subsection (1) above unless a draft of the order has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
(6) The Secretary of State shall not exercise his power to make an order under section 32 unless a majority of votes cast in a referendum held under this section in each of the existing areas affected supports the proposed alteration." '.— [Nick Herbert.]
Question put, That the amendment be made:—
The House divided: Ayes 223, Noes 295.
Division number 228
Orders of the Day — Schedule 2 — Amendments to the Police Act 1996
Division number 229
Orders of the Day — Schedule 2 — Amendments to the Police Act 1996
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
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The term "majority" is used in two ways in Parliament. Firstly a Government cannot operate effectively unless it can command a majority in the House of Commons - a majority means winning more than 50% of the votes in a division. Should a Government fail to hold the confidence of the House, it has to hold a General Election. Secondly the term can also be used in an election, where it refers to the margin which the candidate with the most votes has over the candidate coming second. To win a seat a candidate need only have a majority of 1.
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.
