§ Mr. RidleyWe shall sell the shares when the market is right. That seems thoroughly sensible and to answer both hon. Members.
Finally, I note that the Opposition have opposed this proposal in the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Bill Committee 988 and on this Bill both in Committee and today. Of course oil is a priceless asset and a source of tax as well as of oil, but the argument cannot be sustained that it can be secured only by the operation of public sector companies. The vast bulk of the oil won from the North Sea was won by private sector companies. Before oil was discovered there, it was won in other territory and brought to Britain by private sector companies, thus assuring tax revenue and security of supply to Britain.
On the happy note that the assets will pass to the good management of the private sector, the House will wish to resist the penultimate amendment to the Bill. The House will have done a good deed if it commits these clauses to law.
§ Question put, That the amendment be made:—
§ The House divided: Ayes 181, Noes 275.
991| Division No. 273] | [1.20 pm |
| AYES | |
| Adams, Allen | Faulds, Andrew |
| Allaun, Frank | Field, Frank |
| Anderson, Donald | Flannery, Martin |
| Archer, Rt Hon Peter | Fletcher, Ted (Darlington) |
| Ashley, Rt Hon Jack | Ford, Ben |
| Ashton, Joe | Forrester, John |
| Atkinson, N.(H'gey,) | Foster, Derek |
| Bagier, Gordon A.T. | Foulkes, George |
| Barnett, Guy (Greenwich) | Fraser, J. (Lamb'th, N'w'd) |
| Barnett, Rt Hon Joel (H'wd) | Freeson, Rt Hon Reginald |
| Benn, Rt Hon Tony | Garrett, John (Norwich S) |
| Booth, Rt Hon Albert | Garrett, W. E. (Wallsend) |
| Boothroyd, Miss Betty | Graham, Ted |
| Bray, Dr Jeremy | Hamilton, James (Bothwell) |
| Brown, Hugh D. (Provan) | Hamilton, W. W. (C'tral Fife) |
| Brown, Ron (E'burgh, Leith) | Hardy, Peter |
| Buchan, Norman | Harrison, Rt Hon Walter |
| Callaghan, Jim (Midd't'n & P) | Hart, Rt Hon Dame Judith |
| Campbell, Ian | Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy |
| Campbell-Savours, Dale | Haynes, Frank |
| Canavan, Dennis | Hogg, N. (E Dunb't'nshire) |
| Cant, R. B. | Holland, S. (L'b'th, Vauxh'll) |
| Carmichael, Neil | Homewood, William |
| Carter-Jones, Lewis | Hooley, Frank |
| Clark, Dr David (S Shields) | Howell, Rt Hon D. |
| Clarke, Thomas C'b'dge,A'rie | Hoyle, Douglas |
| Cocks, Rt Hon M. (B'stol S) | Huckfield, Les |
| Coleman, Donald | Hughes, Mark (Durham) |
| Concannon, Rt Hon J. D. | Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) |
| Cook, Robin F. | Janner, Hon Greville |
| Cowans, Harry | John, Brynmor |
| Craigen, J. M. (G'gow, M'hill) | Jones, Rt Hon Alec (Rh'dda) |
| Cryer, Bob | Jones, Barry (East Flint) |
| Cunliffe, Lawrence | Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald |
| Cunningham, Dr J. (W'h'n) | Kerr, Russell |
| Davidson, Arthur | Kilroy-Silk, Robert |
| Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (L'lli) | Lamond, James |
| Davis, Clinton (Hackney C) | Leadbitter, Ted |
| Davis, Terry (B'ham, Stechf'd) | Leighton, Ronald |
| Deakins, Eric | Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) |
| Dean, Joseph (Leeds West) | Litherland, Robert |
| Dewar, Donald | Lofthouse, Geoffrey |
| Dixon, Donald | McCartney, Hugh |
| Dobson, Frank | McDonald, Dr Oonagh |
| Dormand, Jack | McElhone, Frank |
| Douglas, Dick | McGuire, Michael (Ince) |
| Dubs, Alfred | McKay, Allen (Penistone) |
| Duffy, A. E. P. | McKelvey, William |
| Dunnett, Jack | MacKenzie, Rt Hon Gregor |
| Dunwoody, Hon Mrs G. | McNamara, Kevin |
| Eadie, Alex | McTaggart, Robert |
| Eastham, Ken | McWilliam, John |
| Ellis, R. (NE D'bysh're) | Marks, Kenneth |
| English, Michael | Marshall, D (G'gow S'ton) |
| Ennals, Rt Hon David | Marshall, Jim (Leicester S) |
| Evans, Ioan (Aberdare) | Martin, M (G'gow S'burn) |
| Evans, John (Newton) | Maxton, John |
| Ewing, Harry | Maynard, Miss Joan |
| Meacher, Michael | Skinner, Dennis |
| Millan, Rt Hon Bruce | Soley, Clive |
| Miller, Dr M. S. (E Kilbride) | Spearing, Nigel |
| Morris, Rt Hon A. (W'shawe) | Spriggs, Leslie |
| Morris, Rt Hon C. (O'shaw) | Stoddart, David |
| Morton, George | Stott, Roger |
| Moyle, Rt Hon Roland | Strang, Gavin |
| Newens, Stanley | Straw, Jack |
| O'Neill, Martin | Summerskill, Hon Dr Shirley |
| Palmer, Arthur | Thorne, Stan (Preston South) |
| Park, George | Tilley, John |
| Parry, Robert | Tinn, James |
| Pavitt, Laurie | Torney, Tom |
| Pendry, Tom | Urwin, Rt Hon Tom |
| Powell, Raymond (Ogmore) | Varley, Rt Hon Eric G. |
| Prescott, John | Wainwright, E. (Dearne V) |
| Price, C. (Lewisham W) | Walker, Rt Hon H. (D'caster) |
| Race, Reg | Welsh, Michael |
| Radice, Giles | White, Frank R. |
| Rees, Rt Hon M (Leeds S) | White, J. (G'gow Pollok) |
| Richardson, Jo | Whitehead, Phillip |
| Roberts, Ernest (Hackney N) | Whitlock, William |
| Roberts, Gwilym (Cannock) | Williams, Rt Hon A. (S'sea W) |
| Robertson, George | Wilson, Gordon (Dundee E) |
| Robinson, G. (Coventry NW) | Wilson, William (C'try SE) |
| Rooker, J. W. | Winnick, David |
| Ross, Ernest (Dundee West) | Woodall, Alec |
| Rowlands, Ted | Woolmer, Kenneth |
| Sever, John | Wright, Sheila |
| Sheerman, Barry | Young, David (Bolton E) |
| Sheldon, Rt Hon R. | |
| Shore, Rt Hon Peter | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Short, Mrs Renée | Dr. Edmund Marshall and |
| Silkin, Rt Hon J. (Deptford) | Mrs. Austin Mitchell. |
| Silverman, Julius | |
| NOES | |
| Aitken, Jonathan | Cadbury, Jocelyn |
| Alison, Rt Hon Michael | Carlisle, John (Luton West) |
| Ancram, Michael | Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) |
| Arnold, Tom | Carlisle, Rt Hon M. (R'c'n) |
| Aspinwall, Jack | Chalker, Mrs. Lynda |
| Atkins, Robert (Preston N) | Channon, Rt. Hon. Paul |
| Atkinson, David (B'm'th,E) | Chapman, Sydney |
| Baker, Nicholas (N Dorset) | Churchill, W. S. |
| Banks, Robert | Clark, Hon A. (Plym'th, S'n) |
| Beaumont-Dark, Anthony | Clark, Sir W. (Croydon S) |
| Bendall, Vivian | Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffe) |
| Bennett, Sir Frederic (T'bay) | Colvin, Michael |
| Benyon, Thomas (A'don) | Cope, John |
| Benyon, W. (Buckingham) | Corrie, John |
| Berry, Hon Anthony | Costain, Sir Albert |
| Best, Keith | Cranborne, Viscount |
| Bevan, David Gilroy | Crouch, David |
| Biffen, Rt Hon John | Dorrell, Stephen |
| Biggs-Davison, Sir John | Douglas-Hamilton, Lord J. |
| Blackburn, John | Dover, Denshore |
| Blaker, Peter | du Cann, Rt Hon Edward |
| Body, Richard | Dunn, Robert (Dartford) |
| Bonsor, Sir Nicholas | Durant, Tony |
| Boscawen, Hon Robert | Eden, Rt Hon Sir John |
| Bottomley, Peter (W'wich W) | Eggar, Tim |
| Bowden, Andrew | Elliott, Sir William |
| Boyson, Dr Rhodes | Eyre, Reginald |
| Braine, Sir Bernard | Fairbairn, Nicholas |
| Bright, Graham | Fairgrieve, Sir Russell |
| Brinton, Tim | Faith, Mrs Sheila |
| Brittan, Rt. Hon. Leon | Farr, John |
| Brooke, Hon Peter | Fell, Sir Anthony |
| Brotherton, Michael | Fenner, Mrs Peggy |
| Brown, Michael (Brigg & Sc'n) | Finsberg, Geoffrey |
| Browne, John (Winchester) | Fisher, Sir Nigel |
| Bruce-Gardyne, John | Fletcher, A. (Ed'nb'gh N) |
| Bryan, Sir Paul | Fletcher-Cooke, Sir Charles |
| Buchanan-Smith, Rt. Hon. A. | Fookes, Miss Janet |
| Buck, Antony | Forman, Nigel |
| Budgen, Nick | Fowler, Rt Hon Norman |
| Bulmer, Esmond | Fox, Marcus |
| Burden, Sir Frederick | Fraser, Peter (South Angus) |
| Butcher, John | Gardner, Edward (S Fylde) |
| Glyn, Dr Alan | Monro, Sir Hector |
| Goodhart, Sir Philip | Montgomery, Fergus |
| Goodhew, Sir Victor | Moore, John |
| Goodlad, Alastair | Morris, M. (N'hampton S) |
| Gorst, John | Morrison, Hon C. (Devizes) |
| Gow, Ian | Morrison, Hon P. (Chester) |
| Grant, Anthony (Harrow C) | Mudd, David |
| Gray, Hamish | Murphy, Christopher |
| Greenway, Harry | Myles, David |
| Griffiths, E. (B'y St. Edm'ds) | Neale, Gerrard |
| Griffiths, Peter Portsm'th N) | Needham, Richard |
| Grylls, Michael | Nelson, Anthony |
| Gummer, John Selwyn | Neubert, Michael |
| Hamilton, Hon A. | Newton, Tony |
| Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury) | Normanton, Tom |
| Hampson, Dr Keith | Onslow, Cranley |
| Hannam, John | Oppenheim, Rt Hon Mrs S. |
| Haselhurst, Alan | Osborn, John |
| Hastings, Stephen | Page, John (Harrow, West) |
| Havers, Rt Hon Sir Michael | Page, Richard (SW Herts) |
| Hawkins, Sir Paul | Parkinson, Rt Hon Cecil |
| Hayhoe, Barney | Parris, Matthew |
| Heddle, John | Patten, John (Oxford) |
| Henderson, Barry | Pattie, Geoffrey |
| Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael | Pawsey, James |
| Hicks, Robert | Percival, Sir Ian |
| Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L. | Pink, R. Bonner |
| Hill, James | Pollock, Alexander |
| Hogg, Hon Douglas (Gr'th'm) | Porter, Barry |
| Holland, Philip (Carlton) | Price, Sir David (Eastleigh) |
| Hooson, Tom | Prior, Rt Hon James |
| Hordern, Peter | Proctor, K. Harvey |
| Howe, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey | Raison, Rt Hon Timothy |
| Howell, Ralph (N Norfolk) | Rathbone, Tim |
| Hunt, John (Ravensbourne) | Rees, Peter (Dover and Deal) |
| Irvine, Bryant Godman | Rees-Davies, W. R. |
| Jessel, Toby | Renton, Tim |
| Johnson Smith, Sir Geoffrey | Rhodes James, Robert |
| Jopling, Rt Hon Michael | Rhys Williams, Sir Brandon |
| Joseph, Rt Hon Sir Keith | Ridley, Hon Nicholas |
| Kellett-Bowman, Mrs Elaine | Ridsdale, Sir Julian |
| Kershaw, Sir Anthony | Rifkind, Malcolm |
| Kimball, Sir Marcus | Rippon, Rt Hon Geoffrey |
| King, Rt Hon Tom | Roberts, M. (Cardiff NW) |
| Knight, Mrs Jill | Roberts, Wyn (Conway) |
| Knox, David | Rossi, Hugh |
| Lang, Ian | Rost, Peter |
| Lawrence, Ivan | Rumbold, Mrs A. C. R. |
| Lee, John | Sainsbury, Hon Timothy |
| Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark | St. John-Stevas, Rt Hon N. |
| Lester, Jim (Beeston) | Scott, Nicholas |
| Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) | Shaw, Giles (Pudsey) |
| Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) | Shelton, William (Streatham) |
| Loveridge, John | Shepherd, Colin (Hereford) |
| Luce, Richard | Shepherd, Richard |
| Lyell, Nicholas | Shersby, Michael |
| Macfarlane, Neil | Silvester, Fred |
| MacGregor, John | Sims, Roger |
| MacKay, John (Argyll) | Skeet, T. H. H. |
| Macmillan, Rt Hon M. | Smith, Dudley |
| McNair-Wilson, M. (N'bury) | Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield) |
| McNair-Wilson, P. (New F'st) | Speed, Keith |
| Madel, David | Speller, Tony |
| Major, John | Spicer, Jim (West Dorset) |
| Marland, Paul | Spicer, Michael (S Worcs) |
| Marten, Rt Hon Neil | Sproat, Iain |
| Mather, Carol | Squire, Robin |
| Maude, Rt Hon Sir Angus | Stainton, Keith |
| Mawby, Ray | Stanbrook, Ivor |
| Mawhinney, Dr Brian | Stanley, John |
| Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin | Steen, Anthony |
| Mayhew, Patrick | Stevens, Martin |
| Mellor, David | Stewart, A. (E Renfrewshire) |
| Meyer, Sir Anthony | Stewart, Ian (Hitchin) |
| Miller, Hal (B'grove) | Stokes, John |
| Mills, Iain (Meriden) | Stradling Thomas, J. |
| Mills, Sir Peter (West Devon) | Tapsell, Peter |
| Miscampbell, Norman | Taylor, Teddy (S'end E) |
| Mitchell, David (Basingstoke) | Temple-Morris, Peter |
| Moate, Roger | Thomas, Rt Hon Peter |
| Thompson, Donald | Wells, Bowen |
| Thorne, Neil (Ilford South) | Wells, John (Maidstone) |
| Thornton, Malcolm | Wheeler, John |
| Townend, John (Bridlington) | Whitney, Raymond |
| Townsend, Cyril D, (B'heath) | Wickenden, Keith |
| Trippier, David | Wiggin, Jerry |
| Trotter, Neville | Wilkinson, John |
| van Straubenzee, Sir W. | Williams, D. (Montgomery) |
| Viggers, Peter | Winterton, Nicholas |
| Waddington, David | Wolfson, Mark |
| Wakeham, John | Young, Sir George (Acton) |
| Waldegrave, Hon William | Younger, Rt Hon George |
| Walker, B. (Perth) | |
| Waller, Gary | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Walters, Dennis | Mr. David Hunt and |
| Ward, John | Mr. Tristan Garel-Jones. |
| Watson, John |
§ Amendment accordingly negatived.
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