European Union Documents – in the House of Commons at 6:54 pm on 24 February 2010.
Votes in this debate
That this House takes note of European Union Documents No. 9494/09 and Addenda 1 and 2, Draft Directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers and amending Directives 2004/39/EC and 2009/.../EC, and No. 15162/09, Opinion of the European Central Bank of
Sylvia Heal
Deputy Speaker
The question is as on the Order Paper. As many as are of that opinion say Aye. [Hon. Members: "Aye."] Of the contrary, No. [Hon. Members: "No."] Under the Orders of the House relating to deferred Divisions, the Division is deferred until half past 12 o'clock on Wednesday next.
Martin Horwood
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not yet 7 o'clock.
Sylvia Heal
Deputy Speaker
That is true; I acknowledge that we are not quite at 7 pm. I was somewhat misled by the earlier comments.
Division number 88
European Union Documents — Alternative Investment Fund Managers
The order paper is issued daily and lists the business which will be dealt with during that day's sitting of the House of Commons.
It provides MPs with details of what will be happening in the House throughout the day.
It also gives details of when and where the standing committees and select committees of the Commons will be meeting.
Written questions tabled to ministers by MPs on the previous day are listed at the back of the order paper.
The order paper forms one section of the daily vote bundle and is issued by the Vote Office
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.
The Deputy speaker is in charge of proceedings of the House of Commons in the absence of the Speaker.
The deputy speaker's formal title is Chairman of Ways and Means, one of whose functions is to preside over the House of Commons when it is in a Committee of the Whole House.
The deputy speaker also presides over the Budget.
