HC Deb 19 July 1982 vol 28 cc181-3
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That, from the beginning of next Session, Standing Order No. 6 (Precedence of government business) shall be amended by adding at the end of line 3—
'(2) Matters selected by the Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition shall have precedence over government business on nineteen allotted days in each session provided that—
(a) two Friday sittings shall be deemed equivalent to a single sitting on any other day, and
(b) not more than two days so allotted may be taken in the form of four half days on any day other than a Friday'.—[Mr. Biffen.]

Amendment made: (g) in line 3, leave out from `(2)' to `provided' in line 4 and insert 'Nineteen allotted days in each session shall be at the disposal of the Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition and matters selected on these days shall have precedence over government business.'.—[Mr. Walter Harrison.] Amendment proposed: (i) in line 8, at end add— '(3) The allocation of days and half days between the various Opposition parties shall be made by the Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition in consultation with the other Opposition parties in the House and having regard to the number of seats each party holds in the House.'.—[Mr. Berth.]

Question put, That the amendment be made:—

The House divided: Ayes 38, Noes 126.

Division 283] [3.10 am
AYES
Alton, David Magee, Bryan
Beaumont-Dark, Anthony Ogden, Eric
Brocklebank-Fowler, C. Osborn, John
Brown, Ronald W. (H'ckn'y S) Owen, Rt Hon Dr David
Budgen, Nick Penhaligon, David
Cartwright, John Pitt, William Henry
Crawshaw, Richard Rodgers, Rt Hon William
Cunningham, G. (Islington S) Sandelson, Neville
du Cann, Rt Hon Edward Smith, Cyril (Rochdale)
Ellis, Tom (Wrexham) Steel, Rt Hon David
Emery, Sir Peter Thomas, Mike (Newcastle E)
Freud, Clement Thomas, Rt Hon Peter
Grant, John (Islington C) Wainwright, R.(Colne V)
Horam, John Wellbeloved, James
Jenkins, Rt Hon Roy (Hillhead) Williams, Rt Hon Mrs (Crosby)
Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) Wrigglesworth, Ian
Lyons, Edward (Bradf'd W)
Mabon, Rt Hon Dr J. Dickson Tellers for the Ayes:
Maclennan, Robert Mr. A. J. Beith and
McNally, Thomas Mr. John Roper.
NOES
Alison, Rt Hon Michael Bray, Dr. Jeremy
Baker, Kenneth (St.M'bone) Brittan, Rt. Hon. Leon
Baker, Nicholas (N Dorset) Brooke, Hon Peter
Bennett, Andrew (St'kp't N) Brown, Michael (Brigg & Sc'n)
Berry, Hon Anthony Buck, Antony
Best, Keith Butcher, John
Biffen, Rt Hon John Cadbury, Jocelyn
Blaker, Peter Campbell-Savours, Dale
Boscawen, Hon Robert Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln)
Bottomley, Peter (W'wich W) Chalker, Mrs. Lynda
Boyson, Dr Rhodes Channon, Rt. Hon. Paul
Chapman, Sydney Morris, Rt Hon C. (O'shaw)
Cocks, Rt Hon M. (B'stol S) Morrison, Hon P. (Chester)
Cope, John Myles, David
Cryer, Bob Neale, Gerrard
Dean, Joseph (Leeds West) Nelson, Anthony
Dobson, Frank Neubert, Michael
Dubs, Alfred Newton, Tony
Dunn, Robert (Dartford) Onslow, Cranley
Eggar, Tim Page, Richard (SW Herts)
English, Michael Patten, John (Oxford)
Evans, John (Newton) Pattie, Geoffrey
Eyre, Reginald Pawsey, James
Finsberg, Geoffrey Percival, Sir Ian
Forman, Nigel Pollock, Alexander
Fraser, Peter (South Angus) Powell, Rt Hon J.E. (S Down)
Garel-Jones, Tristan Raison, Rt Hon Timothy
Golding, John Rathbone, Tim
Goodlad, Alastair Rhodes James, Robert
Gow, Ian Roberts, M. (Cardiff NW)
Gray, Hamish Rooker, J. W.
Gummer, John Selwyn Rossi, Hugh
Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury) Sainsbury, Hon Timothy
Hampson, Dr Keith Scott, Nicholas
Harrison, Rt Hon Walter Shaw, Giles (Pudsey)
Havers, Rt Hon Sir Michael Sheerman, Barry
Hayhoe, Barney Shelton, William (Streatham)
Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L. Short, Mrs Renée
Hogg, Hon Douglas (Gr'th'm) Silkin, Rt Hon J. (Deptford)
Howe, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Sims, Roger
Howell, Rt Hon D. (G'ldf'd) Skinner, Dennis
Hunt, David (Wirral) Spearing, Nigel
Hurd, Rt Hon Douglas Stanley, John
Jenkin, Rt Hon Patrick Stewart, Ian (Hitchin)
Jopling, Rt Hon Michael Stoddart, David
Joseph, Rt Hon Sir Keith Stradling Thomas, J.
King, Rt Hon Tom Tebbit, Rt Hon Norman
Lamont, Norman Thompson, Donald
Lawson, Rt Hon Nigel Thornton, Malcolm
Lee, John Townend, John (Bridlington)
Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark Trippier, David
Macfarlane, Neil Vaughan, Dr Gerard
MacGregor, John Viggers, Peter
McKay, Allen (Penistone) Waddington, David
McNamara, Kevin Wakeham, John
Major, John Waldegrave, Hon William
Marten, Rt Hon Neil Warren, Kenneth
Mather, Carol Wells, Bowen
Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin Wheeler, John
Mellor, David Wickenden, Keith
Moate, Roger Wiggin, Jerry
Moore, John Wilkinson, John
Winnick, David Tellers for the Noes:
Young, Sir George (Acton) Mr. Ian Lang and
Mr. Archie Hamilton.

(1) On any day on which the second reading of a Consolidated Fund or an Appropriation Bill stands as the first order of the day, the question thereon shall be put forthwith upon the reading of that order, no order shall be made for the committal of the Bill and the question for third reading shall be put forthwith.

(2) At the conclusion of proceedings on a Consolidated Fund or an Appropriation Bill, a member of the Government may move 'That this House do now adjourn', the motion shall not lapse at ten o'clock, and if proceedings have not been concluded by nine o'clock in the morning at that sitting, the motion shall lapse at that hour.—[Mr. Biffen.]

Question accordingly negatived.

Main Question, as amended, agreed to.

Ordered, That, from the beginning of next Session, Standing Order No. 6 (Precedence of government business) shall be amended by adding at the end of line 3—