Armed Forces Bill – in the House of Commons at 5:00 pm on 23 June 2021.
Votes in this debate
Amendment proposed: 1, in clause 8, page 9, line 19, at end insert—
“(aa) a relevant government department;”—(Stephen Morgan.)
This amendment, with amendments 2, 3 and 4, would place the same legal responsibility to have ‘due regard’ to the Armed Forces Covenant on central government and the devolved administrations as the Bill currently requires of local authorities and other public bodies.
Division number 33
Armed Forces Bill — Clause 8 — Armed Forces Covenant
The Committee divided: Ayes 271, Noes 355.
Question accordingly negatived.
The list of Members currently certified as eligible for a proxy vote, and of the Members nominated as their proxy, is published at the end of today’s debates.
Amendments made: 8, in clause 8, page 11, line 23, at end insert—
“other than a cross-border Special Health Authority”.
This amendment and Amendment 9 exclude cross-border Special Health Authorities from the scope of section 343AB of the Armed Forces Act 2006.
Amendment 9, in clause 8, page 12, line 10, at end insert—
“‘cross-border Special Health Authority’ means a Special Health Authority which is established under the National Health Service Act 2006 and the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 by virtue of—
(a) paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 2 to the National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006, or
(b) the power under section 28 of the National Health Service Act 2006 and the power under section 22 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 being exercised together;”—(Leo Docherty.)
This amendment and amendment 8 exclude cross-border Special Health Authorities from the scope of section 343AB of the Armed Forces Act 2006.
Amendment proposed: 41, in clause 8, page 13, line 9, at end insert—
“and
(e) in relation to accommodation provided to service people in Scotland, a requirement for that accommodation to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.”—(Carol Monaghan.)
See the explanatory statement for Amendment 39.
Question put, That the amendment be made.
Division number 34
Armed Forces Bill — Clause 8 — Armed Forces Covenant — Accommodation for Service People in Scotland
The Committee divided: Ayes 273, Noes 354.
Question accordingly negatived.
The list of Members currently certified as eligible for a proxy vote, and of the Members nominated as their proxy, is published at the end of today’s debates.
Amendments made: 10, in clause 8, page 13, line 21, leave out “and 5 (child’s plan)”.
This amendment provides that functions under Part 5 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 are not to be “relevant education functions” for the purposes of section 343AC of the Armed Forces Act 2006.
Amendment 11, in clause 8, page 14, line 25, at end insert “, except Article 15”.
This amendment provides that functions under Article 15 of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 (assistance for voluntary organisations) are not to be “relevant housing functions” for the purposes of section 343AD of the Armed Forces Act 2006.
Amendment 12, in clause 8, page 14, line 26, leave out paragraph (c) and insert—
“(c) Chapter 2 of Part 3 of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/412 (N.I. 2)), so far as that Chapter relates to disabled facilities grants.”
This amendment makes it clearer that all functions under Chapter 2 of Part 3 of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, so far as they relate to disabled facilities grants, are to be “relevant housing functions” for the purposes of section 343AD of the Armed Forces Act 2006. Amendment 14 defines “disabled facilities grant”.
Amendment 13, in clause 8, page 14, line 43, leave out “provision of” and insert
“of the following, so far as the function relates to health care”.
This amendment ensures that a function specified in section 343AD(6) of the Armed Forces Act 2006 is a “relevant healthcare function” only so far as it relates to health care. Amendment 15 defines “health care”.
Amendment 14, in clause 8, page 15, line 5, after “section” insert—
“‘disabled facilities grant’ has the meaning given by Article 35(4) of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 2003;”.
This amendment is consequential on amendment 12.
Amendment 15, in clause 8, page 15, line 7, at end insert—
“‘health care’ means all forms of health care provided for individuals, whether relating to physical or mental health.”—(Leo Docherty.)
This amendment is consequential on Amendment 13.
Clause 8, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 9 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
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.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
A person involved in the counting of votes. Derived from the word 'tallier', meaning one who kept a tally.
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.
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.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
