HC Deb 26 July 1972 vol 841 cc1826-38

3.44 p.m.

The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Gordon Campbell)

I beg to move,

That the Order [11th April] be supplemented as follows:—

  1. 1. The Proceedings on Consideration of the Lords Amendments shall be brought to a conclusion, subject to paragraph 2 below, at Eight o'clock today.
  2. 2. If any Motion under Standing Order No. 9 (Adjournment on specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration) falls to be considered during the period for Consideration of Lords Amendments as afore said, then a period equal to the duration of the Proceedings on such a Motion before Eight o'clock shall be added to the period for Consideration of Lords Amendments, and, if necessary, paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 3 (Exempted Business) shall apply to the Consideration of Lords Amendments for such time as is provided under this paragraph to bring such Consideration to a conclusion.
  3. 3. In accordance with the Order [11th April], paragraph 6 of that Order (which relates to dilatory Motions) and paragraph 9 of that Order (which relates to private business) shall have effect in relation to the Proceedings mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Order as if today were an allotted day within the meaning of that Order.
  4. 4.—(1) If at the expiration of the period for which the Proceedings on Consideration of the Lords Amendments may continue by virtue of paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Order, those Proceedings have not been completed, then for the purpose of bringing those Proceedings to a conclusion—
    1. (a) Mr. Speaker shall first put forthwith any Question which has, been already proposed from the Chair and not yet decided, and, ifthat Question is for the amendment of a Lords Amendment, shall then put forth with the Question on any Motion, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Lords Amendment or, as the case may be, in the said Lords Amendment as amended;
    2. (b) Mr. Speaker shall designate such (if any) of the remaining Lords Amendments as appear to him to involve questions of Privilege and shall then forthwith—
      1. (i) put the Question on any Amendment moved by a Minister of the Crown to a specified Lords Amendment and on any Motion that this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment as amended,
      2. (ii) put the Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown that this House does disagree with the Lords in a specified Lords Amendment,
      3. (iii) put the Question on any Motion, That this House doth agree with the 1827 Lords in all the remaining Lords Amendments except those designated by Mr. Speaker or, if none of the remaining Lords Amendments have been so designated, in all the remaining Lords Amendments, and
      4. (iv) if any of the remaining Lords Amendments have been so designated, put separately, with respect to each of those Amendments so designated, the Question on any Motion, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.
    3. (2) Proceedings under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph shall not be interrupted under any Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House.
  5. 5. In paragraph 11 of the Order [11th April] (which relates to Supplemental Orders) any reference to that Order shall be construed as including a reference to this Order.

Under the timetable procedure this stage of the Bill was not originally allocated a specific amount of time since it was not then possible to foresee the number of Amendments which the House of Lords might make to the Bill. The legislation on this matter affecting England and Wales attracted no fewer than 169 Lords Amendments, but in the Scottish Bill which is now before us we are dealing with only some 30 Lords Amendments. The number of Amendments with which we have to deal today is considerably fewer than those with which the House was faced yesterday. Therefore, the time which has been allocated for discussion of these Amendments, which takes us to 8 p.m., is in proportion to the number of Amendments and is a fair allocation.

A large proportion of the Lords Amendments make improvements in the Bill and have been made in recognition of representations and advice received, in many cases from the Opposition. Is it too much to hope that we shall not hear hon. Members opposite today arguing against points which they or their noble Friends in the other place had made earlier and which are now embodied in Amendments? I suggest that several of these Amendments should be accepted without the need for further discussion because they meet points made by the Opposition.

The Motion before us supplements the original allocation of time order for the Bill, which was approved by the House on 11th April. The original order provided for a timetable at this stage of the Bill, and the supplemental order which we are now proposing will provide time for discussion of Lords Amendments until 8 o'clock this evening. Under the proposed procedure, at 8 p.m. all the remaining business will be dealt with in accordance with paragraph 4 of the supplemental order. This procedure is in accordance with precedents on the consideration of Lords Amendments.

I remind the House that the Bill has already been discussed at great length. It occupied 35 sittings of the Scottish Standing Committee, covering 114 hours, and this is a Scottish record. The Committee stage took more time than that on any other Scottish Bill since 1945. It is probably an all-time record, but it is not easy to check the records before that date.

The majority of these Amendments assist the main provisions of the Bill. They include the introduction of a new comprehensive and generous rent rebate scheme applying to all public sector tenants in Scotland; also a rent allowances scheme which gives help to private tenants for the first time. There will also for the first time be a new subsidy giving local authorities direct assistance with slum clearance work. Housing associations will receive new help with works of improvement and conversion as well as new building. The rate-borne housing deficits in Scotland, at present running at about £40 million, will by 1975–76 be reduced to between £15 and £20 million. This will greatly reduce the burden on Scottish ratepayers.

Mr. William Hamilton (Fife, West)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I understand that we are dealing with a guillotine Motion. The Secretary of State appears to be addressing himself to the merits, if there are any, of the Bill. Surely this is not in order?

Mr. Speaker

I do not think I have heard anything that is out of order. But the more quickly the House disposes of this Motion, the more time hon. Members will have to deal with the Bill.

Mr. Campbell

I have almost completed my speech. Obviously the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) was not here yesterday and did not hear the equivalent English Bill being dealt with. There was no difficulty on that occasion.

Government assistance to housing is expected to increase from the present level of £55 million to over £70 million by 1975–76. This reflects the Government's determination to tackle the housing problems which exist in Scotland today.

3.50 p.m.

Mr. William Ross (Kilmarnock)

We are very grateful to the Secretary of State for his speech. We have heard it at least six times before. It was not very good even the first time.

We are dealing with a timetable Motion in respect of certain Lords Amendments. I say "certain Lords Amendments" advisedly. We have got them with indecent haste. The other place completed its consideration of the Bill at 7 o'clock on Thursday last, 20th July, following which someone raced over here to ensure that they were ordered to be printed. They were duly printed on the same day. They appeared in the Admission Order Office on Saturday, 22nd July. However, yesterday we got another Notice Paper. Two of the Amendments should not have been there. In other words, there are not 34 Lords Amendments, as the Secretary of State said, but only 32.

The Secretary of State said that the timetable had been arranged on the basis of the number of Amendments that the Government knew were coming from the other place. However, the business for this week was announced on Thursday of last week, at the usual time, and before the House of Lords had started the last day of the Bill's Report stage. The House of Lords accepted 20 more Amendments. It did not expect to accept them all; what I call the Polwarth muddle took place, and the Government will take out one of them. Such was their incompetence that they have even had to correct the grammar of the Lords Amendments. Evidently the Government knew how many Amendments would be put forward and accepted, and they decided on the timetable Motion before the other place embarked upon the last day of the Bill's Report stage. That is rather an insult to another place.

Equally, the Government decided about the amount of time that we should have. As you rightly interposed, Mr. Speaker, when we were discussing another matter, originally we had from 3.30 until 8 o'clock. We lost a quarter of an hour to start with, and the amount of time that we take discussing this Motion will come out of the total time that we have to discuss the Lords Amendments. I am very conscious of that. But, that being so, I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that he could have spared us his bit of Second Reading utterance again.

There are some of the Amendments that we welcome. We do not welcome the Bill. We do not welcome the fact that we are now at the final stage with yet another Amendment. This is indeed a piece of bloody business: guillotined in Committee, guillotined on Report, and now even guillotined on Lords Amendments. It means that we shall not be able to give the attention to some of these Amendments that we should have liked. However, I look forward to hearing the Secretary of State at least give some explanation of those of his duties and responsibilities which are covered by important Amendments. As late as 20th July Amendments were being discussed dealing with vital principles in relation to the default powers of the Secretary of State. Clearly, the Government are still perfecting their weapon of aggression against local authorities.

I am glad to see the Lord Advocate here. I regret that probably he will not be with us for the whole day. I understand and sympathise with the reason for that, and I do not blame him. But he must be conscious of the fact, if the Secretary of State is not, that some strange bits of law have been imported into Clause 72 by way of Amendments at the last minute. They are very important and they merit considerable discussion. However, we shall not have a great deal of time for that, and the responsibility is the Government's.

It does not say very much for the competence of the Scottish Office that at this late stage we should be dealing in such a way with this vital point about default. What is more, it does not end there. A further change in relation to default is made in Schedule 9. When it was discussed in another place the noble Lord in charge of the Bill excused himself because of its technicality. He was not au fait with the business of explaining it to the House.

The noble Lord got himself into a considerable muddle. In the House of Lords the Government actually accepted an Amendment that they wanted to reject, and now, under a guillotine, we have to rediscuss it and persuade the Government to leave that Amendment where it is. We have to persuade the Government to agree with the Lords in that Amendment. The Government did not know this when they decided that the Bill should be guillotined. Certainly they did not know it when they decided on a guillotine in this shortened form, with it falling at 8 o'clock.

It is not the number of Amendments that should determine the time that we take; it is the quality of them. When the right hon. Gentleman comes to move them, if he does, I am sure that he will tell us how important they are. I am sure that he will say about those to Clause 72 that they are vital to his responsibilities and duties under this legislation, which he considers important but which we consider to be tragic from a Government all set on confrontation.

It is unworthy of the Secretary of State to come along with a Motion like this with Amendments like these. I suggest that we vote against the Motion right away.

3.56 p.m.

Mr. David Steel (Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles)

I do not believe that this occasion should be allowed to pass without some more general comment on the Government's recent handling of Scottish legislation. If we carry this Motion, the suggestion is that we complete our consideration of Lords Amendments at 8 o'clock and then start on our considera-

tion of the Harbours Development (Scotland) Bill. I confess that that is of no great interest to me, but I know that it is of concern to certain hon. Members. Presumably it will take some time. Then we have the Administration of Justice (Scotland) Bill, and presumably that, too, will take some time. Following that we have a United Kingdom Bill. Then we go back to Scotland and to the second major piece of legislation before us today. Presumably the National Health Service (Scotland) Bill will come on in the small hours of the morning.

This is not the way to treat Scottish Members, with four items of Scottish legislation down for discussion on one day. The Government cannot proceed on the assumption that all Scottish Members have served on the relevant Standing Committees. I am not concerned how long the Committee stages have taken. Every hon. Member who has not been a member of the Standing Committees has the right to take part in the discussion of both the Lords Amendments and the Amendments that we ourselves table on each of these Measures. It is treating Scottish Members with less than fairness to shove so many individual items of Scottish legislation on the Order Paper for discussion on any one day.

I agree with the right hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) when he criticises the time allocated to the very important Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Bill. However, the Government's handling of legislation generally leaves a great deal to be desired. Before we proceed to vote on this Motion I believe that it is important that those criticisms should be voiced.

Question put:—

The House divided: Ayes 284, Noes, 257.

Division No. 323.] AYES [4.0 p.m.
Adley, Robert Benyon, W. Buchanan-Smith, Alick(Angus,N&M)
Alison, Michael (Barkston Ash) Berry, Hn. Anthony Buck, Antony
Allason, James (Hemel Hempstead) Biggs-Davison, John Bullus, Sir Eric
Amery, Rt. Hn. Julian Blaker, Peter Burden, F. A.
Archer, Jeffrey (Louth) Boardman, Tom (Leicester, S.W.) Butler, Adam (Bosworth)
Astor, John Boscawen, Robert Campbell, Rt.Hn.G.(Moran&Nairn)
Atkins, Humphrey Bossom, Sir Clive Carlisle, Mark
Awdry, Daniel Bowden, Andrew Carr, Rt. Hn. Robert
Baker, Kenneth (St. Marylebone) Braine, Sir Bernard Cary, Sir Robert
Balniel, Rt. Hn. Lord Bray, Ronald Chapman, Sydney
Barber, Rt. Hn. Anthony Brewis, John Chataway, Rt. Hn. Christopher
Batsford, Brian Brinton, Sir Tatton Chichester-Clark, R.
Beamish, Col. Sir Tufton Brocklebank-Fowler, Christopher Churchill, W. S.
Bell, Ronald Brown, Sir Edward (Bath) Clark, William (Surrey, E.)
Bennett, Sir Frederic (Torquay) Bruce-Gardyne, J. Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffe)
Bennett, Dr. Reginald (Gosport) Bryan, Sir Paul Cockeram, Eric
Cooke, Robert Jennings, J. C. (Burton) Prior, Rt. Hn. J. M. L.
Cooper, A. E. Jessel, Toby Pym, Rt. Hn. Francis
Cordle, John Johnson Smith, G. (E. Grinstead) Quennell, Miss J. M.
Cormack, Patrick Jones, Arthur (Northants, S.) Raison, Timothy
Costain, A. P. Jopling, Michael Ramsden, Rt. Hn. James
Critchley, Julian Joseph, Rt. Hn. Sir Keith Rawlinson, Rt. Hn. Sir Peter
Crouch, David Kaberry, Sir Donald Redmond, Robert
Dalkeith, Earl of Kellett-Bowman, Mrs. Elaine Reed, Laurence (Bolton, E.)
Davies, Rt. Hn. John (Knutsford) Kershaw, Anthony Rees, Peter (Dover)
Dean, Paul Kimball, Marcus Renton, Rt. Hn. Sir David
Deedes, Rt. Hn. W. F. King, Evelyn (Dorset, S.) Rhys Williams, Sir Brandon
Digby, Simon Wingfield King, Tom (Bridgwater) Ridley, Hn. Nicholas
Dixon, Piers Kinsey, J. R. Ridsdale, Julian
Dodds-Parker, Douglas Kirk, Peter Rippon, Rt. Hn. Geoffrey
Douglas-Home, Rt. Hn. Sir Alec Kitson, Timothy Roberts, Michael (Cardiff, N.)
Drayson, G. B. Knight, Mrs. Jill Roberts, Wyn (Conway)
du Cann, Rt. Hn. Edward Knox, David Rodgers, Sir John (Sevenoaks)
Dykes, Hugh Lamont, Norman Rossi, Hugh (Hornsey)
Eden, Rt. Hn. Sir John Lane, David Rost, Peter
Edwards, Nicholas (Pembroke) Legge-Bourke, Sir Harry Royle, Anthony
Elliot, Capt. Walter (Carshalton) Le Marchant, Spencer Russell, Sir Ronald
Elliott, R. W. (N'c'tle-upon-Tyne,N.) Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) St. John-Stevas, Norman
Emery, Peter Lloyd, Ian (P'tsm'th, Langstone) Scott, Nicholas
Eyre, Reginald Longden, Sir Gilbert Scott-Hopkins, James
Farr, John Loveridge, John Sharples, Sir Richard
Fell, Anthony Luce, R. N. Shaw, Michael (Sc'b'gh & Whitby)
Fenner, Mrs. Peggy McAdden, Sir Stephen Shelton, William (Clapham)
Fidler, Michael MacArthur, Ian Simeons, Charles
Finsberg, Geoffrey (Hampstead) McCrindle, R. A. Sinclair, Sir George
Fisher, Nigel (Surbiton) McLaren, Martin Skeet, T. H. H.
Fletcher-Cooke, Charles Maclean, Sir Fitzroy Smith, Dudley (W'wick & L'mington)
Fookes, Miss Janet McMaster, Stanley Soref, Harold
Fortescue, Tim Macmillan,Rt.Hn.Maurice (Farnham) Speed, Keith
Foster, Sir John McNair-Wilson, Michael Spence, John
Fowler, Norman McNair-Wilson, Patrick (NewForest) Sproat, Iain
Fox, Marcus Maddan, Martin Stanbrook, Ivor
Fraser,Rt.Hn.Hugh(St'fford & Stone) Madel, David Stewart-Smith, Geoffrey (Belper)
Fry, Peter Maginnis, John E. Stoddart-Scott, Col. Sir M.
Galbraith, Hn. T. G. Marples, Rt. Hn. Ernest Stuttaford, Dr. Tom
Gardner, Edward Marten, Neil Sutcliffe, John
Gibson-Watt, David Mather, Carol Tapsell, Peter
Gilmour, Ian (Norfolk, C.) Maude, Angus Taylor, Sir Charles (Eastbourne)
Gilmour, Sir John (Fife, E.) Mawby, Ray Taylor,Edward M.(G'gow,Cathcart)
Glyn, Dr. Alan Maxwell-Hyslop, R. J. Taylor, Frank (Moss Side)
Goodhart, Philip Meyer, Sir Anthony Tebbit, Norman
Goodhew, Victor Mills, Peter (Torrington) Temple, John M.
Gorst, John Mills, Stratton (Belfast, N.) Thatcher, Rt. Hn. Mrs. Margaret
Gower, Raymond Miscampbell, Norman Thomas, John Stradling (Monmouth)
Grant, Anthony (Harrow, C.) Mitchell,Lt.-Col.C.(Aberdeenshire,W) Thompson, Sir Richard (Croydon, S.)
Gray, Hamish Mitchell, David (Basingstoke) Trafford, Dr. Anthony
Green, Alan Moate, Roger Trew, Peter
Grieve, Percy Money, Ernle Tugendhat, Christopher
Griffiths, Eldon (Bury St. Edmunds) Monks, Mrs. Connie Turton, Rt. Hn. Sir Robin
Gummer, J. Selwyn Monro, Hector van Straubenzee, W. R.
Gurden, Harold Montgomery, Fergus Vaughan, Dr. Gerard
Hall, Miss Joan (Keighley) More, Jasper Vickers, Dame Joan
Hall, John (Wycombe) Morgan, Geraint (Denbigh) Waddington, David
Hall-Davis, A. G. F. Morgan-Giles, Rear-Adm. Walker, Rt. Hn. Peter (Worcester)
Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury) Morrison, Charles Walker-Smith, Rt. Hn. Sir Derek
Hannam, John (Exeter) Mudd, David Wall, Patrick
Harrison, Brian (Maldon) Murton, Oscar Walters, Dennis
Haselhurst, Alan Neave, Airey Ward, Dame Irene
Hastings, Stephen Nicholls, Sir Harmar Warren, Kenneth
Havers, Michael Noble, Rt. Hn. Michael Wells, John (Maidstone)
Hawkins, Paul Nott, John White, Roger (Gravesend)
Hayhoe, Barney Onslow, Cranley Wiggin, Jerry
Heath, Rt. Hn. Edward Oppenheim, Mrs. Sally Wilkinson, John
Heseltine, Michael Osborn, John Winterton, Nicholas
Higgins, Terence L. Owen, Idris (Stockport, N.) Wolrige-Gordon, Patrick
Hiley, Joseph Page, Rt. Hn. Graham (Crosby) Wood, Rt. Hn. Richard
Hill, John E. B. (Norfolk, S.) Page, John (Harrow, W.) Woodhouse, Hn. Christopher
Hill, James (Southampton, Test) Parkinson, Cecil Woodnutt, Mark
Holland, Philip Peel, John Worsley, Marcus
Hordern, Peter Percival, Ian Younger, Hn. George
Hornby, Richard Peyton, Rt. Hn. John
Hornsby-Smith,Rt.Hn.Dame Patricia Pike, Miss Mervyn TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Howell, Ralph (Norfolk, N.) Pink, R. Bonner Mr. Walter Clegg and
Hunt, John Pounder, Rafton Mr. Bernard Weatherill.
Hutchison, Michael Clark Powell, Rt. Hn. J. Enoch
Irvine, Bryant Godman (Rye) Price, David (Eastleigh)
James, David
Jenkin, Patrick (Woodford)
NOES
Abse, Leo Freeson, Reginald Meacher, Michael
Albu, Austen Galpern, Sir Myer Mellish, Rt. Hn. Robert
Allaun, Frank (Salford, E.) Garrett, W. E. Mendelson, John
Allen, Scholefield Gilbert, Dr. John Mikardo, Ian
Armstrong, Ernest Ginsburg, David (Dewsbury) Millan, Bruce
Ashley, Joe Golding, John Miller, Dr. M. S.
Ashton, Joe Gordon Walker, Rt. Hn. P. C. Milne, Edward
Atkinson, Norman Gourlay, Harry Mitchell, R. C. (S'hampton, Itchen)
Bagier, Gordon A. T. Grant, George (Morpeth) Morgan, Elystan (Cardiganshire)
Barnes, Michael Grant, John D. (Islington, E.) Morris, Alfred (Wythenshawe)
Barnett, Guy (Greenwich) Griffiths, Eddie (Brightside) Morris, Charles R. (Openshaw)
Barnett, Joel (Heywood and Royton) Griffiths, Will (Exchange) Morris, Rt. Hn. John (Aberavon)
Baxter, William Grimond, Rt. Hn. J. Mulley, Rt. Hn. Frederick
Benn, Rt. Hn. Anthony Wedgwood Hamilton, William (Fife, W.) Murray, Ronald King
Bennett, James (Glasgow, Bridgeton) Hamling, William Oakes, Gordon
Bidwell, Sydney Hannan, William (G'gow, Maryhill) Ogden, Eric
Bishop, E. S. Hardy, Peter O'Halloran, Michael
Blenkinsop, Arthur Harper, Joseph O'Malley, Brian
Boardman, H. (Leigh) Harrison, Walter (Wakefield) Oram, Bert
Bottomley, Rt. Hn. Arthur Hart, Rt. Hn. Judith Orbach, Maurice
Boyden, James (Bishop Auckland) Healey, Rt. Hn. Denis Orme, Stanley
Bradley, Tom Heffer, Eric S. Oswald, Thomas
Broughton, Sir Alfred Hilton, W. S. Owen, Dr. David (Plymouth, Sutton)
Brown, Bob (N'c'tle-upon-Tyne,W.) Horam, John Padley, Walter
Brown, Hugh D. (G'gow, Provan) Houghton, Rt. Hn. Douglas Paget, R. T.
Brown, Ronald (Shoreditch & F'bury) Howell, Denis (Small Heath) Palmer, Arthur
Buchan, Norman Hughes, Rt. Hn. Cledwyn (Anglesey) Pannell, Rt. Hn. Charles
Buchanan, Richard (G'gow, Sp'burn) Hughes, Mark (Durham) Parker, John (Dagenham)
Butler, Mrs. Joyce (Wood Green) Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen, N.) Parry, Robert (Liverpool, Exchange)
Callaghan, Rt. Hn. James Hunter, Adam Pavitt, Laurie
Campbell, I. (Dunbartonshire, W.) Irvine,Rt.Hn.SirArthur(Edge Hill) Peart, Rt. Hn. Fred
Cant, R. B. Janner, Greville Pentland, Norman
Carmichael, Neil Jay, Rt. Hn. Douglas Perry, Ernest G.
Carter, Ray (Birmingh'm, Northfield) Jeger, Mrs. Lena Prentice, Rt. Hn. Reg.
Carter-Jones, Lewis (Eccles) Jenkins, Hugh (Putney) Prescott, John
Castle, Rt. Hn. Barbara Jenkins, Rt. Hn. Roy (Stechford) Price, J. T. (Westhoughton)
Clark, David (Colne Valley) John, Brynmor Price, William (Rugby)
Cocks, Michael (Bristol, S.) Johnson, Carol (Lewisham, S.) Probert, Arthur
Cohen, Stanley Johnson, James (K'ston-on-Hull, W.) Reed, D. (Sedgefield)
Coleman, Donald Johnson, Walter (Derby, S.) Rees, Merlyn, (Leeds, S.)
Concannon, J. D. Johnston, Russell (Inverness) Roberts, Albert (Normanton)
Corbet, Mrs. Freda Jones, Barry (Flint, E.) Roberts,Rt.Hn.Goronwy (Caernarvon)
Cox, Thomas (Wandsworth, C.) Jones, Dan (Burnley) Robertson, John (Paisley)
Crawshaw, Richard Jones, Gwynoro (Carmarthen) Roderick,CaerwynE. (Br'c'n&R'dnor)
Crosland, Rt. Hn. Anthony Jones, T. Alec (Rhondda, W.) Rodgers, William (Stockton-on-Tees)
Crossman, Rt. Hn. Richard Judd, Frank Roper, John
Cunningham, G. (Islington, S.W.) Kaufman, Gerald Rose, Paul B.
Cunningham. Dr. J. A. (Whitehaven) Kelley, Richard Ross, Rt. Hn. William (Kilmarnock)
Dalyell, Tam Kinnock, Neil Rowlands, Ted
Darling, Rt. Hn. George Lambie, David Sheldon, Robert (Ashton-under-Lyne)
Davidson, Arthur Lamond, James Shore, Rt. Hn. Peter (Stepney)
Davies, Denzil (Llanelly) Latham, Arthur Short,Rt.Hn.Edward (N'c'tle-u-Tyne)
Davies, Ifor (Gower) Lawson, George Silkin, Rt. Hn. John (Deptford)
Davis, Clinton (Hackney, C.) Leadbitter, Ted Silkin, Hn. S. C. (Dulwich)
Davis, Terry (Bromsgrove) Lee, Rt. Hn. Frederick Sillars, James
Deakins, Eric Leonard, Dick Silverman, Julius
de Freitas, Rt. Hn. Sir Geoffrey Lestor, Miss Joan Skinner, Dennis
Dell, Rt. Hn. Edmund Lever, Rt. Hn. Harold Small, William
Dempsey, James Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) Smith, John (Lanarkshire, N.)
Doig, Peter Lipton, Marcus Spearing, Nigel
Dormand, J. D. Lomas, Kenneth Spriggs, Leslie
Douglas, Dick (Stirlingshire, E.) Loughlin, Charles Stallard, A. W.
Douglas-Mann, Bruce Lyons, Edward (Bradford, E.) Steel, David
Driberg, Tom Mabon, Dr. J. Dickson Stewart, Rt. Hn. Michael (Fulham)
Duffy, A. E. P. McBride, Neil Stoddart, David (Swindon)
Dunn, James A. McCartney, Hugh Strang, Gavin
Dunnett, Jack McElhone, Frank Strauss, Rt. Hn. G. R.
Eadie, Alex McGuire, Michael Summerskill, Hn. Dr. Shirley
Edelman, Maurice Mackenzie, Gregor Taverne, Dick
Edwards, Robert (Bilston) Mackie, John Thomas,Rt.Hn.George (Cardiff,W.)
Edwards, William (Merioneth) Mackintosh, John P. Thomson, Rt. Hn. G. (Dundee, E.)
English, Michael Maclennan, Robert Thorpe, Rt. Hn. Jeremy
Evans, Fred McMillan, Tom (Glasgow, C.) Tinn, James
Ewing, Henry McNamara, J. Kevin Torney, Tom
Fitch, Alan (Wigan) Mahon, Simon (Bootle) Urwin, T. W.
Fletcher, Raymond (Ilkeston) Mallalieu, J. P. W. (Huddersfield, E.) Varley, Eric G.
Fletcher, Ted (Darlington) Marks, Kenneth Wainwright, Edwin
Foley, Maurice Marquand, David Walden, Brian (B'm'ham, All Saints)
Foot, Michael Marsden, F. Walker, Harold (Doncaster)
Ford, Ben Marshall, Dr. Edmund
Forrester, John Mason, Rt. Hn. Roy
Fraser, John (Norwood) Mayhew, Christopher
Wallace, George Whitlock, William Wilson, William (Coventry, S.)
Watkins, David Willey, Rt. Hn. Frederick Wool, Robert
Weitzman, David Williams, Alan (Swansea, W.)
Wells, William (Walsall, N.) Williams, Mrs. Shirley (Hitchin) TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
White, James (Glasgow, Pollok) Wilson, Alexander (Hamilton) Mr. James Hamilton and
Whitehead, Philip Wilson, Rt. Hn. Harold (Huyton) Mr. Tom Pendry.

Question accordingly agreed to.

Ordered,

That the Order [11th April] be supplemented as follows:—

  1. 1. The Proceedings on Consideration of the Lords Amendments shall be brought to a conclusion, subject to paragraph 2 below, at Eight o'clock today.
  2. 2. If any Motion under Standing Order No. 9 (Adjournment on specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration) falls to be considered during the period for Consideration of Lords Amendments as afore said, then a period equal to the duration of the Proceedings on such a Motion before Eight o'clock shall be added to the period for Consideration of Lords Amendments, and, if necessary, paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 3 (Exempted Business) shall apply to the Consideration of Lords Amendments for such time as is provided under this paragraph to bring such Consideration to a conclusion.
  3. 3. In accordance with the Order [11th April], paragraph 6 of that Order (which relates to dilatory Motions) and paragraph 9 of that Order (which relates to private business) shall have effect in relation to the Proceedings mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Order as if today were an allotted day within the meaning of that Order.
  4. 4.—(1) If at the expiration of the period for which the Proceedings on Consideration of the Lords Amendments may continue by virtue of paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Order, those Proceedings have not been completed, then for the purpose of bringing those Proceedings to a conclusion—
    1. (a) Mr. Speaker shall first put forthwith any Question which has been already proposed from the Chair and not yet decided, and, if that Question is for the amendment 1838 of a Lords Amendment, shall then put forthwith the Question on any Motion, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Lords Amendment or, as the case may be, in the said Lords Amendment as amended;
    2. (b) Mr. Speaker shall designate such (if any) of the remaining Lords Amendments as appear to him to involve questions of Privilege and shall then forthwith—
      1. (i) put the Question on any Amendment moved by a Minister of the Crown to a specified Lords Amendment and on any Motion that this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment as amended,
      2. (ii) put the Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown that this House does disagree with the Lords in a specified Lords Amendment,
      3. (iii) put the Question on any Motion, That this House doth agree with the Lords in all the remaining Lords Amendments except those designated by Mr. Speaker or, if none of the remaining Lords Amendments have been so designated, in all the remaining Lords Amendments, and
      4. (iv) if any of the remaining Lords Amendments have been so designated, put separately, with respect to each of those Amendments so designated, the Question on any Motion, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

(2) Proceedings under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph shall not be interrupted under any Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House.

5. In paragraph 11 of the Order [11th April] (which relates to Supplemental Orders) any reference to that Order shall be construed as including a reference to this Order.