HC Deb 02 April 1980 vol 982 c612

Lords amendment: No. 24, in page 40, line 44, leave out "simple majority vote" and insert a simple majority of the votes cast and in the case of an equality of votes the chairman of the committee shall have a second or casting vote".

Dr. Boyson

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

We discussed the amendment in Committee for quite a long time. Looking back, I remind the House of several things which were said. The hon. Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett), who is not with us tonight, said that there should be a casting vote in the case of a conflict. The hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing), who played a big part in our Committee discussions, similarly pressed for a casting vote. All the amendment does is to state that where there has to be a majority vote, obviously on the decision of the appeal, the chairman shall have a right to a second or casting vote.

We said in Committee that we would look at this again, and in another place this amendment was moved. We should be able to achieve a degree of unanimity on this matter.

Question put and agreed to.

Lords amendments Nos. 25 to 28 agreed to.