§ OTHER AMENDMENTS OF TRANSPORT ACT 1968
§ '1. In section 63 of the Transport Act 1968 (objections to grant of operators' licences)—
- (a) in subsection (1) the words "Subject to subsection (2) of this section" shall be omitted;
- (b) subsection (2) shall be omitted; and
- (c) in subsection (3), for the words from "of which" to "this section" there shall be substituted the words "for an operator's licence".
§ 2. In section 64 of that Act (grounds for objection to application for a licence under section 63 and decision of licensing authority on applications)—
- (a) at the beginning of subsection (1) there shall be inserted the words "Subject to section 69E of this Act";
- (b) the words in paragraph (d) of subsection (2) from "and that the place" to the end of the paragraph, and the words "and of a suitable operating centre" in paragraph (e) of that subsection (which were in each case inserted by the Road Traffic Act 1974 and are superseded by the provisions set out in Part I of this Schedule) shall be omitted; and
- (c) in subsection (3), after the words "subsection (4) of this section" there shall be inserted the words "and section 69B of this Act".
§ 3. In section 68(4) of that Act (publication of notice of applications for variation of operators' licences)—
- (a) paragraph (a) shall be omitted; and
- (b) for the words "the said section 63" (where first occurring) there shall be substituted the words "section 63 of this Act".
§ 4. In section 70(1)(b) of that Act (right of appeal for persons aggrieved by certain directions or orders), after the words "69(1) to (7A)" there shall be inserted the words "or 69F(1)".
§
5. At the end of section 92(3) of that Act (construction of references to directing that an operator's licence be curtailed), there shall be added the following paragraph—
(d) that any one or more of the places specified in the licence as operating centres be removed therefrom". '.—[Mr. Eyre.]
§ Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill.
§ No. 85, in title, line 15, leave out 'the operation of' and insert 'operating centres for'.—[Mr. Eyre.]
6.43 pm§ Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Bill be now read the Third time.—[Mr. David Howell.]
844§ Mr. BoothIt is understandable that the Secretary of State does not wish to deploy a case for the Third Reading of such a repugnant measure as this. I realise the reluctance of those who have laboured hard and long on any measure to see it killed or disappear. No matter what the results of one's handiwork, if that handiwork is embodied in the Bill one is reluctant to see it dispatched to the scrap heap, the dustbin or the wastepaper basket of legislative history. Nevertheless, it is my task tonight to commend the House to do precisely that with this measure.
I commend the House to do so, first, because of the main provisions of clause 1, which are that a power shall be granted to the Secretary of State to instruct the National Bus Company to sell any of its subsidiaries or to so reorganise its assets as to form a subsidiary for the purpose of selling it.
It is clear to anyone who examines the transport industry that few assets can be sold. There are many that one could not give away, to put it bluntly. However, there are a few profitable areas of operation, jewels that shine from the murky background of the operation—murky in the financial sense, not necessarily in the public service sense. Many operators strive hard to maintain a tradition of good public transport.
Within the National Bus Company there are a few profitable organisations that were made profitable by much enterprise and effort by those who worked in the company and responded when the Government de-licensed express coaching. It is clear that in part I the Government wished to say "You have used our legislation to create a profitable area in transport. You cannot do that. You will be giving a good name to a public industry and to public transport. Anything that is public must be damned or made unprofitable and, therefore, we shall instruct you to sell it." That is our first objection to what the Government are doing. They have found another profitable area in the holiday agency operation.
Apart from our difference of philosophy with the Government, we have a mechanical difference with them which we commend to the House. The ability of the NBC to succeed in this area where others have failed does not arise solely from the management expertise, the ability of the staff or the fact that it is a good operator. It arises because it is such a large organisation that it can integrate the provision of other services within its general duty to run the stage carriage services of Britain. As it has garages and booking offices all over the country, it is possible to slot into the framework of that massive organisation express coaching and holiday agencies and to derive a profit, which is currently used to support the non-profitable services such as the rural bus services and the off-peak urban services.
Last night the Secretary of State urged the House to get the matter into perspective. I took that point carefully. He said that the company made a profit of only £5 million, although it has a large turnover. Which other organisation made £5 million last year running buses anywhere in Britain? That would be a desirable organisation, but I know of none. To make £5 million last year when the competition was cut-throat and when other firms went to the wall in trying to compete is no small achievement.
That situation will not continue for long. There will be a swing of the pendulum in the other direction and the coach operators that survived the period of cut-throat competition will examine ways in which to put up their fares again so that they can have a larger income. That is 845 all the more reason why we should not attempt to break up that closely integrated operation. I question whether it can be done. It might be done by accountancy, but to remove from the NBC the drivers, buses, garages and offices and to say that those parts must be devoted only to express coach operations or holiday agencies is to make practical nonsense of the operation.
If only £5 million is to be taken out, will the Secretary of State give us a guarantee that the £5 million will be handed to those authorities whose agreements with the NBC will lapse as a result of the NBC no longer being able to feed in that money by way of transport supplementary grant? If that is not the case, the public will once again be the loser.
Before raising the Opposition's principal objections about HGV testing stations, I urge the Secretary of State to consider their possible size. I do so incase, despite our superb case against the Bill, the Government's argument may yet be carried.
The right hon. Gentleman should carefully examine public service vehicle testing. When I talked to operators, I found that the development of testing facilities for public service vehicles on the operator's premises had almost been brought to a halt by Government action. There had been considerable expansion of the installation of such facilities in larger bus garages. The operators tell me that they are uncertain about being able to have coaches tested and about the charges that will be made as a result of the proposed changes.
If the Secretary of State is to operate the Act, he must take steps to ensure that operators who have good test facilities are assured that they will be provided with authorised testers. There is no guarantee of that at the moment. They fear, with some justification, that some of the authorised testers will be the employees of their competitors for test facilities.
The Secretary of State appears to disagree. I take the example of a bus operator who has spent a considerable sum of money installing equipment to carry out tests to the Ministry of Transport's requirements. He may have been able until now to rely on the Ministry to supply someone to test buses on his facilities at a fixed fee. The operator fears that he may in future be forced to go to a private HGV testing station to ask for someone to test his vehicles on his premises.
The private tester will decide when he will make a man available and how much to charge, unless there is a uniform system of charges, without any account being taken of the fact that operators provide their own test facilities. That will be a major disincentive to the expansion of test facilities.
I plead with the Secretary of State to bear in mind that the provision of such facilities has contributed greatly to the maintenace of bus standards. An operator with his own test facilities does not use them only when the tester arrives. He tests his vehicles first. He will not waste the time of the tester, who might find that the vehicle is not up to standard and the owner will then have to carry out the work. He will test his vehicles first and find the faults. He will carry out the work to prevent the faults from developing. This is done to maintain braking standards, for example. It is in the interests of road safety to encourage that development.
The Opposition remain alarmed about the down-licensing rather than the down-plating approach of the Government. I hope that the Secretary of State will ensure that vehicle operators who claim the advantage of paying a lower licensing fee under the Finance Bill because they will run below their plated weights will be required to display a plate prominently. That will allow much more effective enforcement.
846 In spite of varying cross-party opinions on part HI, the Opposition find parts I and II repugnant. They are narrowly doctrinaire and are conceived to sacrifice the interests of public transport and road safety to Tory monetarist prejudice. They will result in cuts in the Civil Service and the destruction of the public sector because of the aims of a crusade, the achievement of which seems to justify any end.
For those reasons, we recommend that the Bill be rejected.
§ Mr. David HowellI was anxious to hear whether the right hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. Booth) had some worthwhile reasons for opposing what most people recognise as a thoroughly constructive transport Bill. Admittedly it covers a wide range of transport interests, but it is utterly in tune with the needs of those who use public transport, the transport industry and the interests of the community. That is why I thought it right that the right hon. Gentleman should have the opportunity to oppose the Bill and to advance some good reasons for doing so. The House will be confirmed in its suspicion that he has none.
The right hon. Gentleman dealt with the question of more private money being brought into the bus industry. He mentioned his worry that the profitable operations of the National Express subsidiary of the National Bus Company should be privatised. That is a little strange as, thinking back, he and his right hon. and hon. Friends vigorously opposed—possibly with more vigour than the Opposition have pursued what they think is wrong in the Bill—the measures that enabled National Express to develop healthily into a highly profitable enterprise. What is wrong with that? The right hon. Gentleman opposed it. Now that it occurs he wrings his hands and regrets that private money should be sought to reinforce the success of National Express.
What is more, the money will be used to reinforce the NBC, which is a minority shareholder in the National Express subsidiary—as I believe it will be—and to provide some resources to back up its other operations. That is a desirable and helpful development. It is not in the mode of party doctrine or dogma. It is a sensible and practical development. I cannot understand why the right hon. Gentleman could not advise his right hon. and hon. Friends to welcome it strongly.
The Bill also deals with other opportunities for the development and expansion of the passenger transport business. It will bring higher quality services and better facilities for both the travelling public and the staff. The company has advanced preliminary proposals for separate commercial accounts for National Express and the holiday side of the business. Those ideas are being developed in discussions between the Department and the company with a view to their being in place by the end of 1982.
With regard to property, the chairman of the National Bus Company has presented me with an interesting package of proposals that involve the private sector in the development and improvement of NBC sites. I shall discuss them shortly with the chairman to try to agree the best way forward for the NBC, the people who use buses and sit in stations and all those, both customers and those in the industry, who wish to see it prosper. I cannot understand why the Opposition find that so objectionable in practice or why they find it impossible to suppress a deep primeval instinct to attack everything to do with the 847 private sector and private money being introduced to further operations. It is a pity that they were not able to override their prejudices.
Part II proposes a goods vehicle scheme which will be more efficient and better geared to the needs of industry. The way in which I have suggested that that should be done—through discussions with Lloyd's Register—is wholly in line with the requirements and suggestions that were advanced both by the Select Committee on Transport and with the needs and concerns that were expressed in Committee. Again, I should have expected a warmer welcome than we have received from the Opposition.
I shall, of course, take account of the needs of bus operators in the way that the right hon. Gentleman describes. Of course we want an efficient service in safe hands. I believe that under the scheme being discussed with Lloyd's Register it will be possible to develop the system in a way that meets the needs as well as or even better than at present.
The Bill also proposes a fairer and much more efficient system of penalties for traffic offences and more effective safeguards for the public from the unpleasant side of lorry operations. Much of the debate on traffic offences inevitably concentrated on the extension of the system to a wider range of offences. Nevertheless, we must not lose sight of the important measures provided by the Bill to improve enforcement of the present system, which have, I think, also been universally welcomed. As the House knows, at present the system is being defeated by a large number of motorists who do not pay because they believe that the penalties will not be enforced. The changes being introduced will help to ensure that that does not happen.
I have listened carefully to the right hon. Gentleman, but I have heard no good reason why the Third Reading of the Bill should be opposed. We do not feel defensive about it in terms of party dogma. We put it forward with confidence as a series of sound, practical measures which deserve the full support of everyone with a genuine interest in the transport industries of this country and in meeting the transport needs of the community and the customers of the transport services. I hope, therefore, that right hon. and hon. Members will give it full support.
§ Question put, That the Bill be now read the Third time:—
§ The House divided: Ayes 282, Noes 217.
850| Division No. 171] | [7 pm |
| AYES | |
| Adley, Robert | Biffen, Rt Hon John |
| Alexander, Richard | Biggs-Davison, SirJohn |
| Alison, Rt Hon Michael | Blackburn, John |
| Amery, Rt Hon Julian | Blaker, Peter |
| Ancram, Michael | Body, Richard |
| Arnold, Tom | Bonsor, SirNicholas |
| Aspinwall, Jack | Boscawen, Hon Robert |
| Atkins, Rt Hon H. (S'thorne) | Bottomley, Peter (W'wich W) |
| Atkins, Robert('PrestonN) | Bowden, Andrew |
| Atkinson, David (B'm'th, E,) | Boyson, Dr Rhodes |
| Baker, Kenneth (St.M'bone) | Braine, SirBernard |
| Baker, Nicholas (N Dorset) | Bright, Graham |
| Banks, Robert | Brinton, Tim |
| Beaumont-Dark, Anthony | Brittan, Rt. Hon. Leon |
| Bendall, Vivian | Brooke, Hon Peter |
| Bennett, SirFrederic (T'bay) | Brotherton, Michael |
| Benyon, Thomas (A'don) | Brown, Michael (Brigg&Sc'n) |
| Benyon, W. (Buckingham) | Bruce-Gardyne, John |
| Best, Keith | Buchanan-Smith, Rt. Hon. A. |
| Bevan, DavidGilroy | Buck, Antony |
| Budgen, Nick | Hicks, Robert |
| Bulmer, Esmond | Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L. |
| Burden, SirFrederick | Hill, James |
| Butcher, John | Hogg, Hon Douglas (Gr'th'm) |
| Cadbury, Jocelyn | Holland, Philip(Carlton) |
| Carlisle, John (Luton West) | Hooson, Tom |
| Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) | Hordern, Peter |
| Chapman, Sydney | Howell, Rt Hon D.(G'ldf'd) |
| Churchill, W.S. | Hunt, David (Wirral) |
| Clark, Hon A. (Plym'th, S'n) | Irving, Charles (Cheltenham) |
| Clark, Sir W. (Croydon S) | Jenkin, Rt Hon Patrick |
| Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffe) | JohnsonSmith, Geoffrey |
| Clegg, SirWalter | Jopling, Rt Hon Michael |
| Cockeram, Eric | Kaberry, SirDonald |
| Colvin, Michael | Kershaw, SirAnthony |
| Cope, John | Kilfedder, JamesA. |
| Cormack, Patrick | Kimball, SirMarcus |
| Corrie, John | Kitson, SirTimothy |
| Costain, SirAlbert | Knight, MrsJill |
| Cranborne, Viscount | Knox, David |
| Critchley, Julian | Lamont, Norman |
| Crouch, David | Lang, Ian |
| Dean, Paul (North Somerset) | Langford-Holt, SirJohn |
| Dickens, Geoffrey | Latham, Michael |
| Dorrell, Stephen | Lawrence, Ivan |
| Douglas-Hamilton, LordJ. | Lee, John |
| Dover, Denshore | Lennox-Boyd, HonMark |
| du Cann, Rt Hon Edward | Lester, Jim (Beeston) |
| Dunn, Robert (Dartford) | Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) |
| Durant, Tony | Lloyd, Ian (Havant&W'loo) |
| Dykes, Hugh | Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) |
| Eden, Rt Hon Sir John | Loveridge, John |
| Edwards, Rt Hon N. (P'broke) | Luce, Richard |
| Eggar, Tim | McCrindle, Robert |
| Emery, Sir Peter | Macfarlane, Neil |
| Eyre, Reginald | MacGregor, John |
| Fairbairn, Nicholas | MacKay, John (Argyll) |
| Fairgrieve, SirRussell | Macmillan, Rt Hon M. |
| Faith, MrsSheila | McNair-Wilson, M. (N'bury) |
| Farr, John | McNair-Wilson, P. (NewF'st) |
| Finsberg, Geoffrey | McQuarrie, Albert |
| Fisher, SirNigel | Madel, David |
| Fletcher-Cooke, SirCharles | Major, John |
| Fookes, MissJanet | Marland, Paul |
| Forman, Nigel | Marlow, Antony |
| Fowler, Rt Hon Norman | Marshall, Michael (Arundel) |
| Fox, Marcus | Marten, Rt Hon Neil |
| Fraser, Rt Hon Sir Hugh | Maude, Rt Hon Sir Angus |
| Fraser, Peter (South Angus) | Mawby, Ray |
| Fry, Peter | Mawhinney, Dr Brian |
| Gardiner, George (Reigate) | Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin |
| Gardner, Edward (S Fylde) | Mellor, David |
| Garel-Jones, Tristan | Meyer, Sir Anthony |
| Gilmour, Rt Hon Sir Ian | Miller, Hal (B'grove) |
| Glyn, Dr Alan | Mills Iain (Meriden) |
| Goodhart, SirPhilip | Mills, Peter (West Devon) |
| Goodhew, SirVictor | Miscampbell, Norman |
| Goodlad, Alastair | Mitchell, David (Basingstoke) |
| Gorst, John | Moate, Roger |
| Gow, Ian | Monro, SirHector |
| Gower, SirRaymond | Montgomery, Fergus |
| Gray, Hamish | Moore, John |
| Greenway, Harry | Morris, M. (N'hampton S) |
| Griffiths, E. (B'ySt. Edm'ds) | Morrison, Hon C. (Devizes) |
| Griffiths, Peter Portsm'th N) | Mudd, David |
| Grist, Ian | Murphy, Christopher |
| Grylls, Michael | Myles, David |
| Gummer, JohnSelwyn | Neale, Gerrard |
| Hamilton, Hon A. | Needham, Richard |
| Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury) | Nelson, Anthony |
| Hampson, Dr Keith | Neubert, Michael |
| Hannam, John | Newton, Tony |
| Haselhurst, Alan | Normanton, Tom |
| Havers, Rt Hon Sir Michael | Nott, Rt Hon John |
| Hawkins, Paul | Onslow, Cranley |
| Hawksley, Warren | Oppenheim, Rt Hon Mrs S. |
| Hayhoe, Barney | Page, John (Harrow, West) |
| Heddle, John | Page, Richard (SW Herts) |
| Henderson, Barry | Parris, Matthew |
| Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael | Pawsey, James |
| Percival, Sir Ian | Stevens, Martin |
| Peyton, Rt Hon John | Stewart, A. (E Renfrewshire) |
| Pink, R, Bonner | Stewart, Ian (Hitchin) |
| Pollock, Alexander | Stokes, John |
| Porter, Barry | StradlingThomas, J. |
| Prentice, Rt Hon Reg | Tapsell, Peter |
| Proctor, K. Harvey | Temple-Morris, Peter |
| Pym, Rt Hon Francis | Thatcher, Rt Hon Mrs M. |
| Rees, Peter (Dover and Deal) | Thomas, Rt Hon Peter |
| Rees-Davies, W. R. | Thompson, Donald |
| Renton, Tim | Thorne, Neil(IlfordSouth) |
| Rhodes James, Robert | Thornton, Malcolm |
| Rhys Williams, SirBrandon | Townend, John (Bridlington,) |
| Ridley, HonNicholas | Townsend, Cyril D, (B'heath) |
| Ridsdale, SirJulian | Trippier, David |
| Rifkind, Malcolm | Trotter, Neville |
| Roberts, M. (Cardiff NW) | van Straubenzee, SirW. |
| Roberts, Wyn (Conway) | Vaughan, Dr Gerard |
| Rossi, Hugh | Viggers, Peter |
| Rost, Peter | Waddington, David |
| Royle, SirAnthony | Wakeham, John |
| Sainsbury, HonTimothy | Waldegrave, HonWilliam |
| St. John-Stevas, Rt Hon N. | Wall, SirPatrick |
| Shaw, Giles (Pudsey) | Waller, Gary |
| Shaw, Michael (Scarborough) | Walters, Dennis |
| Shelton, William (Streatham) | Ward, John |
| Shepherd, Colin (Hereford) | Warren, Kenneth |
| Shepherd, Richard | Watson, John |
| Silvester, Fred | Wheeler, John |
| Sims, Roger | Whitelaw, Rt Hon William |
| Skeet, T. H. H. | Whitney, Raymond |
| Smith, Dudley | Wickenden, Keith |
| Speed, Keith | Wiggin, Jerry |
| Speller, Tony | Wilkinson, John |
| Spence, John | Williams, D.(Montgomery) |
| Spicer, Jim (WestDorset) | Winterton, Nicholas |
| Spicer, Michael (S Worcs) | Wolfson, Mark |
| Sproat, Iain | Young, SirGeorge (Acton) |
| Squire, Robin | Younger, Rt Hon George |
| Stainton, Keith | |
| Stanbrook, Ivor | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Stanley, John | Mr. Anthony Beny and Mr. Carol Mather. |
| Steen, Anthony |
| NOES | |
| Abse, Leo | Conlan, Bernard |
| Adams, Allen | Cook, Robin F. |
| Alton, David | Cowans, Harry |
| Anderson. Donald | Craigen, J. M. (G'gow, M'hill) |
| Archer, Rt Hon Peter | Crowther, Stan |
| Ashley, Rt Hon Jack | Cryer, Bob |
| Ashton, Joe | Cunliffe, Lawrence |
| Atkinson, N.(H'gey,) | Cunningham, G. (IslingtonS) |
| Bagier, Gordon A.T. | Cunningham, Dr J.(W'h'n) |
| Barnett, Guy (Greenwich) | Davidson, Arthur |
| Barnett, Rt Hon Joel (H'wd) | Davies, Ifor (Gower) |
| Beith, A.J. | Davis, Clinton (HackneyC) |
| Benn, Rt Hon Tony | Davis, Terry (B'ham, Stechf'd) |
| Bennett, Andrew(St'kp'tN) | Dean, Joseph (Leeds West) |
| Bidwell, Sydney | Dewar, Donald |
| Booth, Rt Hon Albert | Dixon, Donald |
| Bray, Dr Jeremy | Dobson, Frank |
| Brocklebank-Fowler, C. | Dormand, Jack |
| Brown, Hugh D. (Provan) | Douglas, Dick |
| Brown, Ron(E'burgh, Leith) | Dubs, Alfred |
| Buchan, Norman | Duffy, A. E. P. |
| Callaghan, Rt Hon J. | Dunn, James A. |
| Callaghan, Jim (Midd't'n&P) | Dunnett, Jack |
| Campbell, Ian | Dunwoody, Hon MrsG. |
| Campbell-Savours, Dale | Eadie, Alex |
| Canavan, Dennis | Eastham, Ken |
| Cant, R. B. | Edwards, R. (W'hampt'n SE) |
| Carmichael, Neil | Ellis, R.(NE D'bysh're) |
| Carter-Jones, Lewis | English, Michael |
| Cartwright, John | Ennals, Rt Hon David |
| Clark, Dr David (S Shields) | Evans, Ioan (Aberdare) |
| Cocks, Rt Hon M. (B'stol S) | Field, Frank |
| Cohen, Stanley | Fitch, Alan |
| Coleman, Donald | Flannery, Martin |
| Concannon, Rt Hon J. D. | Fletcher, Ted (Darlington) |
| Ford, Ben | O'Neill, Martin |
| Forrester, John | Owen, Rt Hon Dr David |
| Foster, Derek | Palmer, Arthur |
| Fraser, J. (Lamb 'th, N'w'd) | Park, George |
| Garrett, John (Norwich S) | Parker, John |
| Garrett, W. E. (Wallsend) | Parry, Robert |
| George, Bruce | Penhaligon, David |
| Gilbert, Rt Hon Dr John | Powell, Raymond (Ogmore) |
| Graham, Ted | Prescott, John |
| Hamilton, W. W. (C'tral Fife) | Price, C. (Lewisham W) |
| Hardy, Peter | Race, Reg |
| Harrison, Rt Hon Walter | Radice, Giles |
| Heffer, Eric S. | Rees, Rt Hon M (Leeds S) |
| Hogg, N. (EDunb't'nshire) | Richardson, Jo |
| Holland,S.(L'b'th,Vauxh'll) | Roberts, Albert (Normanton) |
| HomeRobertson, John | Roberts, Ernest (Hackney N) |
| Howells, Geraint | Roberts, Gwilym (Cannock) |
| Hoyle, Douglas | Robinson, G. (Coventry NW) |
| Hughes, Mark (Durham) | Rodgers, Rt Hon William |
| Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) | Rooker, J. W. |
| Hughes, Roy (Newport) | Ross, Ernest (Dundee West) |
| Janner, HonGreville | Ryman, John |
| Jay, Rt Hon Douglas | Sandelson, Neville |
| John, Brynmor | Sever, John |
| Johnson, Walter (Derby S) | Sheerman, Barry |
| Johnston, Russell (Inverness) | Sheldon, Rt Hon R. |
| Jones, Rt Hon Alec (Rh'dda) | Shore, Rt Hon Peter |
| Jones, Barry (East Flint) | Short, Mrs Renée |
| Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald | Silkin, Rt HonJ. (Deptford) |
| Kerr, Russell | Silkin, Rt Hon S. C. (Dulwich) |
| Kilroy-Silk, Robert | Silverman, Julius |
| Kinnock, Neil | Skinner, Dennis |
| Lambie, David | Smith, Rt Hon J. (N Lanark) |
| Lamborn,Harry | Snape, Peter |
| Lamond, James | Soley, Clive |
| Leadbitter, Ted | Spearing, Nigel |
| Leighton, Ronald | Spriggs, Leslie |
| Lestor, Miss Joan | Stallard, A. W. |
| Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) | Steel, Rt Hon David |
| Litherland, Robert | Stoddart, David |
| Lofthouse, Geoffrey | Stott, Roger |
| Lyon, Alexander (York) | Strang, Gavin |
| McCartney,Hugh | Straw, Jack |
| McDonald, Dr Oonagh | Summerskill, Hon Dr Shirley |
| McElhone, Frank | Thomas, Dafydd (Merioneth) |
| McKay, Allen (Penistone) | Thomas, Mike (Newcastle E) |
| McKelvey, William | Thomas, Dr R. (Carmarthen) |
| Maclennan, Robert | Thorne, Stan (PrestonSouth) |
| McMahon, Andrew | Tilley, John |
| McNally, Thomas | Tinn, James |
| McNamara, Kevin | Tomey, Tom |
| McTaggart, Robert | Urwin, Rt Hon Tom |
| McWilliam, John | Varley, Rt Hon Eric G. |
| Marks, Kenneth | Walker, Rt Hon H. (D'caster) |
| Marshall, D (G'gowS'ton) | Watkins, David |
| Marshall, Dr Edmund (Goole) | Wellbeloved, James |
| Marshall, Jim (Leicester S) | Welsh, Michael |
| Martin, M (G'gow S'burn) | White, Frank R. |
| Mason, Rt Hon Roy | White, J. (G'gow Pollok) |
| Maxton, John | Whitehead, Phillip |
| Maynard, Miss Joan | Whitlock, William |
| Meacher, Michael | Willey, Rt Hon Frederick |
| Mellish, Rt Hon Robert | Williams, Rt HonA. (S'seaW) |
| Mikardo, Ian | Williams, Rt Hon Mrs (Crosby) |
| Millan, Rt Hon Bruce | Wilson, Gordon (Dundee E) |
| Miller, Dr M.S. (E Kilbride) | Wilson, Rt Hon SirH.(H'ton) |
| Mitchell,Austin(Grimsby) | Winnick, David |
| Mitchell, R.C. (Soton Itchen) | Woodall, Alec |
| Morris, Rt Hon A. (W'shawe) | Woolmer, Kenneth |
| Morris, Rt HonJ. (Aberavon) | Wright, Sheila |
| Morton, George | Young, David (Bolton E) |
| Moyle, Rt Hon Roland | |
| Newens, Stanley | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon | Mr. James Hamilton and Mr. Frank Haynes. |
| Ogden, Eric | |
| O'Halloran, Michael |
§ Question accordingly agreed to.
§ Bill read the Third time and passed.