HC Deb 11 November 1980 vol 992 cc258-61

Lords amendment: No. 8 after clause 2, in page 4, line 31, after the words last inserted insert new clause B— B—(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring authorities to whom section 2 above applies to publish any description of information specified in a code issued under that section if in his opinion it is necessary to make such regulations in order to ensure that authorities publish information of that description. (2) The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring such authorities to publish any description of information specified in a code issued under section 2 above in the manner and form specified in the code, if in his opinion it is necessary to make such regulations in order to ensure that authorities publish information of that description in that manner and form. (3) Where the occasions specified in a code for the publication of any description of information recur not more often than once a year the Secretary of State may make regulations requiring authorities to publish information of that description on the occasions specified in the code, if in his opinion it is necessary to make such regulations in order to ensure that authorities publish information of that description on those occasions. (4) Where the occasions specified in a code for the publication of any description of information recur more often than once a year, the Secretary of State may make regulations requiring authorities to publish information on the occasions specified in the code if—

  1. (a) the information is of a description to which this sub-section applies; and
  2. (b) in his opinion it is necessary to make such regulations in order to ensure that authorities publish information of that description on the occasions specified in the code.
(5) The descriptions of information to which subsection (4) above applies are—
  1. (a) information about the discharge of authorities' functions relating to housing or land;
  2. (b) information about the number of their employees or the number of any description of their employees; and
  3. (c) information about the determination of applications for planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 or the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972.
(6) The Secretary of State may by order direct that subsection (4) above shall apply to descriptions of information other than those specified in subsection (5) above. (7) Any regulations under this section and any order under subsection (6) above may make different provision in relation to authorities in England, authorities in Scotland and authorities in Wales. (8) The power to make any such regulations or order shall be exercisable by statutory instrument. (9) A statutory instrument containing any such regulations shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament. (10) No order under subsection (6) above shall have effect until approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament. (11) Before issuing a code under section 2 above or making regulations under this section or an order under subsection (6) above the

Secretary of State shall consult such associations of authorities to whom section 2 above applies as appear to him to be concerned and any such authority with whom consultation appears to him to be desirable.

(12) A code may specify and regulations under subsection (2) above may require that any description of information shall be published to the public in general or to any section of it."

Question put, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment:—

The House divided: Ayes 185, Noes 135.

Division No. 494] AYES [6.27 pm
Alton, David Grimond, Rt Hon J. Page, John (Harrow West)
Amery, Rt Hon Julian Grist, Ian Page, Richard (SW Hertfordshire)
Ancram, Michael Grylis, Michael Parris, Matthew
Arnold, Tom Hamilton, Hon Archie (Eps'm&Ew'Il) Patten, Christopher (Bath)
Atkins, Robert (Preston North) Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury) Pattie, Geoffrey
Baker, Nicholas (North Dorset) Hampson, Dr Keith Pink, R. Bonner
Beith, A. J. Hawkins, Paul Porter, Barry
Bendall, Vivian Hawksley, Warren Prentice, Rt Hon Reg
Benyon, Thomas (Abingdon) Hayhoe, Barney Proctor, K. Harvey
Benyon, W. (Buckingham) Heddle, John Raison, Timothy
Berry, Hon Anthony Henderson, Barry Rees-Davies, W. R.
Best, Keith Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael Renton, Tim
Biggs-Davison, John Hicks, Robert Rhodes James, Robert
Boscawen, Hon Robert Hill, James Rifkind, Malcolm
Braine, Sir Bernard Hogg, Hon Douglas (Grantham) Rippon, Rt Hon Geoffrey
Bright, Graham Hooson, Tom Roberts, Michael (Cardiff NW)
Brinton, Tim Hordern, Peter Roberts, Wyn (Conway)
Brown, Michael (Brigg & Sc'thorpe) Howells, Geraint Rost, Peter
Bruce-Gardyne, John Hunt, John (Ravensbourne) Royle, Sir Anthony
Bryan, Sir Paul Hurd, Hon Douglas Sainsbury, Hon Timothy
Budgen, Nick Irving, Charles (Cheltenham) Shaw, Giles (Pudsey)
Bulmer, Esmond Jessel, Toby Shaw, Michael (Scarborough)
Butcher, John Johnston, Russell (Inverness) Shepherd, Colin (Hereford)
Cadbury, Jocelyn Jopling, Rt Hon Michael Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge-Br'hills)
Carlisle, John (Luton West) Kershaw, Anthony Shersby, Michael
Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) Kilfedder, James A. Silvester, Fred
Chalker, Mrs. Lynda King, Rt Hon Tom Skeet, T. H. H.
Chapman, Sydney Lamont, Norman Speed, Keith
Clark, Hon Alan (Plymouth, Sutton) Lang, Ian Spence, John
Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffe) Latham, Michael Spicer, Michael (S Worcestershire)
Cockeram, Eric Lawrence, Ivan Squire, Robin
Colvin, Michael Lawson, Nigel Stainton, Keith
Cope, John Lee, John Stanbrook, Ivor
Costain, Sir Albert Le Marchant, Spencer Steen, Anthony
Cranborne, Viscount Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark Stewart, Ian (Hitchin)
Critchley, Julian Lester, Jim (Beeston) Stewart, John (East Renfrewshire)
Crouch, David Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) Stradling Thomas, J.
Dean, Paul (North Somerset) Lloyd, Ian (Havant & Waterloo) Taylor, Robert (Croydon NW)
Dickens, Geoffrey Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) Tebbit, Norman
Dorrell, Stephen Lyell, Nicholas Thompson, Donald
Dover, Denshore McNair-Wilson, Michael (Newbury) Thorne, Neil (Ilford South)
du Cann, Rt Hon Edward Major, John Townend, John (Bridlington)
Dunn, Robert (Dartford) Marlow, Tony Townsend, Cyril D. (Bexleyheath)
Eggar, Tim Marten, Neil (Banbury) Trippler, David
Emery, Peter Mather, Carol Waddington, David
Fairgrieve, Russell Mawby, Ray Wakeham, John
Faith, Mrs Sheila Mawhinney, Dr Brian Walker, Bill (Perth & E Perthshire)
Fell, Anthony Mellor, David Waller, Gary
Fenner, Mrs Peggy Meyer, Sir Anthony Warren, Kenneth
Fisher, Sir Nigel Miller, Hal (Bromsgrove & Redditch) Watson, John
Fletcher-Cooke, Charles Mills, Iain (Meriden) Wells, John (Maidstone)
Fookes, Miss Janet Moate, Roger Wells, Bowen (Hert'rd & Stev'nage)
Forman, Nigel Morris, Michael (Northampton, Sth) Wheeler, John
Fox, Marcus Morrison, Hon Charles (Devizes) Whitney, Raymond
Fraser, Peter (South Angus) Morrison, Hon Peter (City of Chester) Wickendon, Keith
Freud, Clement Murphy, Christopher Wiggin, Jerry
Gardiner, George (Reigate) Myles, David Williams, Delwyn (Montgomery)
Garel-Jones, Tristan Neale, Gerrard Wolfson, Mark
Gilmour, Rt Hon Sir Ian Needham, Richard Young, Sir George (Acton)
Glyn, Dr Alan Nelson, Anthony
Goodlad, Alastair Neubert, Michael TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Gray, Hamish Newton, Tony Lord James Douglas-Hamilton and
Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth N) Onslow, Cranley Mr. John MacGregor.
NOES
Allaun, Frank Garrett, John (Norwich S) Orme, Rt Hon Stanley
Atkinson, Norman (H'gey, Tott'ham) Graham, Ted Palmer, Arthur
Barnett, Rt Hon Joel (Heywood) Grant, George (Morpeth) Park, George
Bernett, Andrew (Stockport N) Hamilton, James (Bothwell) Parry, Robert
Bidwell, Sydney Hamilton, W. W. (Central Fife) Pendry, Tom
Booth, Rt Hon Albert Hardy, Peter Powell, Rt Hon J. Enoch (S Down)
Bottomley, Rt Hon Arthur (M'brough) Harrison, Rt Hon Walter Powell, Raymond (Ogmore)
Bradley, Tom Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy Richardson, Jo
Brown, Hugh D. (Provan) Haynes, Frank Rippon, Rt Hon Geoffrey
Brown, Robert C. (Newcastle W) Heffer, Eric S. Roberts, Albert (Normanton)
Brown, Ronald W. (Hackney S) Hogg, Norman (E Dunbartonshire) Roberts, Ernest (Hackney North)
Callaghan, Jim (Middleton & P) Home Robertson, John Robertson, George
Campbell-Savours, Dale Homewood, William Robinson, Geoffrey (Coventry NW)
Cant, R. B. Hooley, Frank Rooker, J. W.
Carmichael, Neil Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen North) Roper, John
Carter-Jones, Lewis Jay, Rt Hon Douglas Ross, Wm. (Londonderry)
Clark, Dr David (South Shields) John, Brynmor Ryman, John
Cocks, Rt Hon Michael (Bristol S) Johnson, James (Hull West) Sandelson, Neville
Concannon, Rt Hon J. D. Jones, Rt Hon Alec (Rhondda) Silkin, Rt Hon John (Deptford)
Cook, Robin F. Jones, Barry (East Flint) Silverman, Julius
Craigen, J. M. (Glasgow, Maryhill) Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald Soley, Clive
Crowther, J. S. Kilroy-Silk, Robert Spearing, Nigel
Cryer, Bob Lamborn, Harry Spriggs, Leslie
Cunliffe, Lawrence Leighton, Ronald Stallard, A. W.
Cunningham, George (Islington S) Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) Stewart, Rt Hon Donald (W Isles)
Davis, Terry (B'rm'ham, Stechford) Stott, Roger
Dempsey, James Litherland, Robert Straw, Jack
Dixon, Donald McDonald, Dr Oonagh Taylor, Mrs Ann (Bolton West)
Dobson, Frank McGuire, Michael (Ince) Thomas, Dafydd (Merioneth)
Dormand, Jack McKelvey, William Thomas, Dr Roger (Carmarthen)
Douglas, Dick MacKenzie, Rt Hon Gregor Thorne, Stan (Preston South)
Dubs, Alfred McNamara, Kevin Tilley, John
Duffy, A. E. P. McTaggart, Robert Tinn, James
Dunwoody, Hon Mrs Gwyneth Marshall, Dr Edmund (Goole) Wainwright, Edwin (Dearne Valley)
Eastham, Ken Mason, Rt Hon Roy Watkins, David
Ellis, Raymond (NE Derbyshire) Maynard, Miss Joan Weetch, Ken
English, Michael Mellish, Rt Hon Robert Welsh, Michael
Evans, Ioan (Aberdare) Millan, Rt Hon Bruce Wigley, Dafydd
Evans, John (Newton) Mitchell, R. C. (Soton, Itchen) Wilson, Gordon (Dundee East)
Ewing, Harry Molyneaux, James Wilson, William (Coventry SE)
Field, Frank Morris, Rt Hon Alfred (Wythenshaw) Winnick, David
Flannery, Martin Morris, Rt Hon Charles (Openshaw) Woolmer, Kenneth
Fletcher, Ted (Darlington) Morris, Rt Hon John (Aberavon)
Foot, Rt Hon Michael Morton, George TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Forrester, John Newens, Stanley Mr. Hugh McCartney and
Foster, Derek Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon Mr. Joseph Dean.
Foulkes, George O'Neill, Martin

Question accordingly agreed to.

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