§ Mr. PrescottI beg to move amendment No. 14, in page 6, line 5, leave out subsection (3) and insert—
'(3) The Board of the Holding Company shall consist of two directors appointed by the Secretary of State and not less than 3 and not more than 11 determined by the Holding Company.'We made it clear, earlier that the directors ought to be appointed to the board, and this amendment reflects that wish. The Minister cited the precedent of British Petroleum, but he seems to have missed the fact that BP has directors appointed by the Government.The principle of the amendment is clear and I shall not develop the argument. We feel that there should be representation on the board and that the formula should be similar to that for BP. We share that view, apparently, with the Secretary of State for Employment. This therefore seems to be an amendment that the Government could accept.
§ 8 pm
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWhen the arrangements for British Petroleum were set up in the First World War there was concern about foreign naval or military policy implications which led to two Government directors being appointed. Important though the affairs of Southampton, Hull and other docks are, there are no great foreign policy or defence interests involved. At present we are not minded to appoint directors. We do not think that the public interest requires them. It would be a private sector company, not controlled by the Government, and would have considerable advantages from that arrangement.
§ Question put, That the amendment be made:
218§ The House divided: Ayes 209, 300.
221| Division No. 158] | [8.00 pm |
| AYES | |
| Abse, Leo | Garrett, W. E. (Wallsend) |
| Adams, Allen | George, Bruce |
| Allaun, Frank | Ginsburg, David |
| Anderson, Donald | Golding, John |
| Archer, Rt Hon Peter | Gourlay, Harry |
| Ashley, Rt Hon Jack | Graham, Ted |
| Ashton, Joe | Grant, George (Morpeth) |
| Atkinson, N. (H'gey,) | Hamilton, James (Bothwell) |
| Barnett, Guy (Greenwich) | Hamilton, W. W. (C'tral Fife) |
| Barnett, Rt Hon Joel (H'wd) | Hardy, Peter |
| Booth, Rt Hon Albert | Hart, Rt Hon Dame Judith |
| Boothroyd, Miss Betty | Haynes, Frank |
| Bottomley, Rt Hon k.(M'b'ro) | Heffer, Eric S. |
| Bradley, Tom | Hogg, N. (E Dunb't'nshire) |
| Bray, Dr Jeremy | Home Robertson, John |
| Brown, Hugh D. (Provan) | Homewood, William |
| Brown, R. C. (N'castle W) | Hooley, Frank |
| Brown, Ronald W. (H'ckn'y S) | Hughes, Mark (Durham) |
| Buchan, Norman | Hughes, Roy (Newport) |
| Callaghan, Jim (Midd't'n & P) | Jay, Rt Hon Douglas |
| Campbell, Ian | John, Brynmor |
| Campbell-Savours, Dale | Johnson, James (Hull West) |
| Canavan, Dennis | Johnson, Walter (Derby S) |
| Cant, R. B. | Jones, Barry (East Flint) |
| Carmichael, Neil | Jones, Dan (Burnley) |
| Carter-Jones, Lewis | Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald |
| Cartwright, John | Kerr, Russell |
| Clark, Dr David (S Shields) | Lambie, David |
| Cocks, Rt Hon M. (B'stol S) | Lamborn, Harry |
| Coleman, Donald | Lamond, James |
| Concannon, Rt Hon J. D. | Leighton, Ronald |
| Cook, Robin F. | Lestor, Miss Joan |
| Cowans, Harry | Lewis, Arthur (N'ham NW) |
| Cox, T. (W'dsw'th, Toot'g) | Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) |
| Craigen, J. M. | Litherland, Robert |
| Crowther, J. S. | Lofthouse, Geoffrey |
| Cryer, Bob | Lyon, Alexander (York) |
| Cunliffe, Lawrence | Lyons, Edward (Bradf'd W) |
| Cunningham, Q. (Islington S) | McCartney, Hugh |
| Cunningham, Dr J. (W'h'n) | McDonald, Dr Oonagh |
| Davidson, Arthur | McElhone, Frank |
| Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (L'lli) | McGuire, Michael (Ince) |
| Davies, Ifor (Gower) | McKay, Allen (Penistone) |
| Davis, Clinton (Hackney C) | McKelvey, William |
| Davis, T. (B'ham, Stechf'd) | MacKenzie, Rt Hon Gregor |
| Deakins, Eric | McMahon, Andrew |
| Dean, Joseph (Leeds West) | McNally, Thomas |
| Dempsey, James | McNamara, Kevin |
| Dewar, Donald | McTaggart, Robert |
| Dixon, Donald | McWilliam, John |
| Dobson, Frank | Magee, Bryan |
| Dormand, Jack | Marks, Kenneth |
| Douglas-Mann, Bruce | Marshall, D(G'gow S'ton) |
| Dubs, Alfred | Marshall, Dr Edmund (Goole) |
| Duffy, A. E. P. | Marshall, Jim (Leicester S) |
| Dunn, James A. | Martin, M (G'gow S'burn) |
| Dunnett, Jack | Mason, Rt Hon Roy |
| Dunwoody, Hon Mrs G. | Meacher, Michael |
| Eadie, Alex | Mellish, Rt Hon Robert |
| Eastham, Ken | Mikardo, Ian |
| Edwards, R. (W'hampt'n S E) | Millan, Rt Hon Bruce |
| Ellis, R. (NE D'bysh're) | Miller, Dr M. S. (E Kilbride) |
| English, Michael | Mitchell, Austin (Grimsby) |
| Ennals, Rt Hon David | Mitchell, R. C. (Soton Itchen) |
| Evans, Ioan (Aberdare) | Morris, Rt Hon A. (W'shawe) |
| Evans, John (Newton) | Morris, Rt Hon C. (O'shaw) |
| Field, Frank | Morris, Rt Hon J. (Aberavon) |
| Flannery, Martin | Moyle, Rt Hon Roland |
| Fletcher, Raymond (Ilkeston) | Newens, Stanley |
| Ford, Ben | Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon |
| Forrester, John | Ogden, Eric |
| Foster, Derek | O'Halloran, Michael |
| Foulkes, George | Orme, Rt Hon Stanley |
| Fraser, J. (Lamb'th, N'w'd) | Owen, Rt Hon Dr David |
| Freeson, Rt Hon Reginald | Palmer, Arthur |
| Garrett, John (Norwich S) | Parker, John |
| Parry, Robert | Stewart, Rt Hon D. (W Isles) |
| Pavitt, Laurie | Stoddart, David |
| Pendry, Tom | Stott, Roger |
| Powell, Raymond (Ogmore) | Summerskill, Hon Dr Shirley |
| Prescott, John | Thomas, Dafydd (Merioneth) |
| Price, C. (Lewisham W) | Thomas, Dr R.(Carmarthen) |
| Race, Reg | Thorne, Stan (Preston South) |
| Radice, Giles | Tilley, John |
| Rees, Rt Hon M (Leeds S) | Tinn, James |
| Richardson, Jo | Torney, Tom |
| Roberts, Albert (Normanton) | Urwin, Rt Hon Tom |
| Roberts, Allan (Bootle) | Wainwright, B.(Dearne V) |
| Roberts, Ernest (Hackney N) | Watkins, David |
| Roberts, Gwilym (Cannock) | Weetch, Ken |
| Robinson, G. (Coventry NW) | Wellbeloved, James |
| Rooker, J. W. | Welsh, Michael |
| Roper, John | White, Frank R. |
| Ross, Ernest (Dundee West) | White, J. (G'gow Pollok) |
| Rowlands, Ted | Whitlock, William |
| Ryman, John | Willey, Rt Hon Frederick |
| Sandelson, Neville | Williams, Sir T.(W'ton) |
| Sever, John | Wilson, Gordon (Dundee E) |
| Short, Mrs Renée | Wilson, Rt Hon Sir H.(H'ton) |
| Silkin, Rt Hon J. (Deptford) | Wilson, William (C'try SE) |
| Skinner, Dennis | Winnick, David |
| Smith, Rt Hon J. (N Lanark) | Woodall, Alec |
| Snape, Peter | Young, David (Bolton E) |
| Soley, Clive | |
| Spearing, Nigel | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Spriggs, Leslie | Mr. Walter Harrison and Mr. George Morton. |
| Stallard, A. W. |
| NOES | |
| Aitken, Jonathan | Carlisle, John (Luton West) |
| Alexander, Richard | Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) |
| Alison, Michael | Chalker, Mrs. Lynda |
| Alton, David | Channon, Rt. Hon. Paul |
| Amery, Rt Hon Julian | Chapman, Sydney |
| Ancram, Michael | Churchill, W. S. |
| Arnold, Tom | Clark, Hon A. (Plym'th, S'n) |
| Aspinwall, Jack | Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffe) |
| Atkins, Robert(Preston N) | Clegg, Sir Walter |
| Atkinson, David (B'm'th, E) | Cockeram, Eric |
| Baker, Kenneth (St. M'bone) | Colvin, Michael |
| Baker, Nicholas (N Dorset) | Cope, John |
| Banks, Robert | Cormack, Patrick |
| Beaumont-Dark, Anthony | Corrie, John |
| Beith, A. J. | Costain, Sir Albert |
| Bell, Sir Ronald | Cranborne, Viscount |
| Bendall, Vivian | Critchley, Julian |
| Benyon, Thomas (A'don) | Dean, Paul (North Somerset) |
| Benyon, W. (Buckingham) | Dickens, Geoffrey |
| Berry, Hon Anthony | Dorrell, Stephen |
| Best, Keith | Dover, Denshore |
| Bevan, David Gilroy | du Cann, Rt Hon Edward |
| Biggs-Davison, John | Dunn, Robert (Dartford) |
| Blackburn, John | Durant, Tony |
| Blaker, Peter | Dykes, Hugh |
| Body, Richard | Eden, Rt Hon Sir John |
| Bonsor, Sir Nicholas | Eggar, Tim |
| Boscawen, Hon Robert | Elliott, Sir William |
| Bottomley, Peter (W'wich W) | Emery, Peter |
| Bowden, Andrew | Eyre, Reginald |
| Boyson, Dr Rhodes | Fairgrieve, Russell |
| Braine, Sir Bernard | Faith, Mrs Sheila |
| Bright, Graham | Farr, John |
| Brinton, Tim | Fenner, Mrs Peggy |
| Brittan, Leon | Finsberg, Geoffrey |
| Brotherton, Michael | Fisher, Sir Nigel |
| Brown, Michael(Brigg & Sc'n) | Fletcher, A. (Ed'nb'gh N) |
| Browne, John (Winchester) | Fletcher-Cooke, Sir Charles |
| Bruce-Gardyne, John | Fookes, Miss Janet |
| Bryan, Sir Paul | Forman, Nigel |
| Buchanan-Smith, Alick | Fowler, Rt Hon Norman |
| Buck, Antony | Fox, Marcus |
| Budgen, Nick | Fraser, Peter (South Angus) |
| Burden, Sir Frederick | Freud, Clement |
| Butcher, John | Fry, Peter |
| Butler, Hon Adam | Galbraith, Hon T. G. D. |
| Cadbury, Jocelyn | Gardiner, George (Reigate) |
| Gardner, Edward (S Fylde) | Marlow, Tony |
| Garel-Jones, Tristan | Marten, Neil (Banbury) |
| Gilmour, Rt Hon Sir Ian | Mates, Michael |
| Glyn, Dr Alan | Mather, Carol |
| Goodhart, Philip | Maude, Rt Hon Sir Angus |
| Goodlad, Alastair | Mawby, Ray |
| Gorst, John | Mawhinney, Dr Brian |
| Gow, Ian | Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin |
| Gower, Sir Raymond | Mayhew, Patrick |
| Grant, Anthony (Harrow C) | Mellor, David |
| Gray, Hamish | Meyer, Sir Anthony |
| Greenway, Harry | Miller, Hal (B'grove) |
| Grieve, Percy | Mills, Iain (Meriden) |
| Griffiths, E.(B'y St. Edm'ds) | Mills, Peter (West Devon) |
| Griffiths, Peter (Portsm'th N) | Miscampbell, Norman |
| Grist, Ian | Moate, Roger |
| Grylls, Michael | Monro, Hector |
| Hamilton, Hon A. | Montgomery, Fergus |
| Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury) | Moore, John |
| Hampson, Dr Keith | Morris, M. (N'hampton S) |
| Hannam, John | Morrison, Hon P. (Chester) |
| Haselhurst, Alan | Mudd, David |
| Havers, Rt Hon Sir Michael | Murphy, Christopher |
| Hawkins, Paul | Myles, David |
| Hawksley, Warren | Neale, Gerrard |
| Hayhoe, Barney | Nelson, Anthony |
| Heddle, John | Neubert, Michael |
| Henderson, Barry | Newton, Tony |
| Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael | Normanton, Tom |
| Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L. | Nott, Rt Hon John |
| Hill, James | Onslow, Cranley |
| Hogg, Hon Douglas (Gr'th'm) | Oppenheim, Rt Hon Mrs S. |
| Holland, Philip (Carlton) | Osborn, John |
| Hooson, Tom | Page, Rt Hon Sir G. (Crosby) |
| Hordern, Peter | Page, Richard (SW Herts) |
| Howe, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey | Parkinson, Cecil |
| Howell, Rt Hon D. (G'ldf'd) | Parris, Matthew |
| Howell, Ralph (N Norfolk) | Patten, Christopher (Bath) |
| Howells, Geraint | Patten, John (Oxford) |
| Hunt, David (Wirral) | Pattie, Geoffrey |
| Hunt, John (Ravensbourne) | Pawsey, James |
| Hurd, Hon Douglas | Penhaligon, David |
| Irving, Charles (Cheltenham) | Percival, Sir Ian |
| Jenkin, Rt Hon Patrick | Pollock, Alexander |
| Jessel, Toby | Porter, Barry |
| Johnson Smith, Geoffrey | Prentice, Rt Hon Reg |
| Johnston, Russell (Inverness) | Price, Sir David (Eastleigh) |
| Jopling, Rt Hon Michael | Proctor, K. Harvey |
| Kaberry, Sir Donald | Pym, Rt Hon Francis |
| Kershaw, Anthony | Raison, Timothy |
| Kilfedder, James A. | Rathbone, Tim |
| Kimball, Marcus | Rees, Peter (Dover and Deal) |
| King, Rt Hon Tom | Rees-Davies, W. R. |
| Kitson, Sir Timothy | Renton, Tim |
| Knox, David | Rhodes James, Robert |
| Lamont, Norman | Ridley, Hon Nicholas |
| Lang, Ian | Rifkind, Malcolm |
| Lawrence, Ivan | Rippon, Rt Hon Geoffrey |
| Lawson, Rt Hon Nigel | Roberts, M. (Cardiff NW) |
| Lee, John | Roberts, Wyn (Conway) |
| Le Marchant, Spencer | Ross, Stephen (Isle of Wight) |
| Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark | Rossi, Hugh |
| Lester, Jim (Beeston) | Rost, Peter |
| Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) | Royle, Sir Anthony |
| Lloyd, Ian (Havant & W'loo) | Sainsbury, Hon Timothy |
| Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) | Scott, Nicholas |
| Loveridge, John | Shaw, Giles (Pudsey) |
| Luce, Richard | Shaw, Michael (Scarborough) |
| Lyell, Nicholas | Shelton, William (Streatham) |
| McCrindle, Robert | Shepherd, Colin (Hereford) |
| Macfarlane, Neil | Shepherd, Richard |
| MacGregor, John | Shersby, Michael |
| MacKay, John (Argyll) | Silvester, Fred |
| Macmillan, Rt Hon M. | Sims, Roger |
| McNair-Wilson, M. (N'bury) | Skeet, T. H. H. |
| McNair-Wilson, P. (New F'st) | Smith, Dudley |
| McQuarrie, Albert | Speller, Tony |
| Madel, David | Spence, John |
| Major, John | Spicer, Jim (West Dorset) |
| Marland, Paul | Spicer, Michael (S Worcs) |
| Sproat, Iain | Walker, Rt Hon P.(W'cester) |
| Stainton, Keith | Walker, B. (Perth) |
| Stanbrook, Ivor | Walker-Smith, Rt Hon Sir D. |
| Stanley, John | Wall, Patrick |
| Stevens, Martin | Waller, Gary |
| Stewart, Ian (Hitchin) | Walters, Dennis |
| Stewart, A.(E Renfrewshire) | Ward, John |
| Stokes, John | Watson, John |
| Stradling Thomas, J. | Wells, John (Maidstone) |
| Tapsell, Peter | Wells, Bowen |
| Taylor, Teddy (S'end E) | Wheeler, John |
| Tebbit, Norman | Whitney, Raymond |
| Temple-Morris, Peter | Wickenden, Keith |
| Thomas, Rt Hon Peter | Wiggin, Jerry |
| Thompson, Donald | Wilkinson, John |
| Thorne, Neil (Ilford South) | Williams, D.(Montgomery) |
| Thornton, Malcolm | Winterton, Nicholas |
| Townend, John (Bridlington) | Wolfson, Mark |
| Townsend, Cyril D, (B'heath) | Young, Sir George (Acton) |
| Trippier, David | Younger, Rt Hon George |
| Trotter, Neville | |
| van Straubenzee, W. R. | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Vaughan, Dr Gerard | Lord James Douglas-Hamilton and Mr. Selwyn Gummer. |
| Viggers, Peter | |
| Waddington, David | |
| Wakeham, John |
§ Queston accordingly negatived.
§ It being after Eight o'clock, MR. DEPUTY SPEAKER proceeded, pursuant to the Order [9 March] and the Resolution this day, to put forthwith the Questions necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded at Eight o' clock.