§ 10 pm
§ Mr. David Penhaligon (Truro)The trouble with the right hon. Member for Lanarkshire, North (Mr. Smith) and many of his profession is that they confuse accuracy with confident assertion. The line taken by the Liberals and Social Democrats on the Bill has been clear from the beginning. The few hon. Members who have taken any interest in the Bill will be aware of that.
The Bill will encourage private generation and allow it to be a main business. I believe that is right and I am pleased that the Government have introduced that concept. It will be interesting to see what happens during the next 12 months, not least in my part of the county, where the CEGB is planning to close a number of power stations. One presumes that the private sector will be allowed to take them over and, one suspects, generate electricity economically. In Plymouth and north Devon there are a number of opportunities for the private sector to take over power stations, save jobs and provide the south-west with some much-needed electricity.
It is strange that the Secretary of State's full point in favour of the Bill was the amendment tabled by the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Rost). I congratulate him on his success. The amendment was broadly welcomed and I am pleased to see it in the Bill.
My party will vote against the Bill on Third Reading, although we voted for it on Second Reading. We said that would happen if the Government did not introduce amendments in Committee or on Report to make it illegal for someone to own a nuclear power station privately. We have made that clear throughout the Bill's passage. The day may arrive when the private ownership of nuclear power stations is safe and to be welcomed. We do not believe that that is the position today. We do not believe that it will happen in the immediate future. When it does happen the House should pass new legislation according to the circumstances at the time.
We welcome part of the Bill. We have made it quite clear which clause we are against. We cannot understand why the Government have been so stubborn about it. We cannot believe that the public would welcome private ownership of a nuclear power station and we shall vote against the Bill.
§ 10.3 pm
§ Mr. Gordon Wilson (Dundee, East)I also said on Second Reading that if the Government did not withdraw the lunatic provision contained in the Bill for the private ownership of nuclear power stations my right hon. Friend the Member for Western Isles (Mr. Stewart) and I would reconsider our vote. I regret that the Government have not taken any action to change the Bill. I do not think that it is a practical proposition for a nuclear power station to be 800 in the private sector. I regard it as a matter of principle. A private nuclear power station is a highly dangerous concept. I am not prepared to accept it for that reason. My right hon. Friend the Member for Western Isles and I will vote against the Bill on Third Reading.
§ Question put, That the Bill be now read the Third time:—
§ The House divided: Ayes, 279, Noes 227.
803| Division No. 89] | [10.5 pm |
| AYES | |
| Aitken, Jonathan | Farr, John |
| Alexander, Richard | Fell, Sir Anthony |
| Alison, Rt Hon Michael | Fenner, Mrs Peggy |
| Amery, Rt Hon Julian | Finsberg, Geoffrey |
| Ancram, Michael | Fisher, Sir Nigel |
| Arnold, Tom | Fletcher, A. (Ed'nb'gh N) |
| Atkins, Rt Hon H.(S'thorne). | Fletcher-Cooke, Sir Charles |
| Atkins, Robert(Preston N) | Fookes, Miss Janet |
| Atkinson, David (B'm'th,E) | Forman, Nigel |
| Baker, Kenneth(St.M'bone,) | Fowler, Rt Hon Norman |
| Baker, Nicholas (N Dorset) | Fraser, Rt Hon Sir Hugh |
| Beaumont-Dark, Anthony | Fraser, Peter (South Angus) |
| Bendall, Vivian | Fry, Peter |
| Benyon, Thomas (A'don) | Gardiner, George (Reigate) |
| Benyon, W. (Buckingham) | Gardner, Sir Edward |
| Berry, Hon Anthony | Gilmour, Rt Hon Sir Ian |
| Bevan, David Gilroy | Glyn, Dr Alan |
| Biffen, Rt Hon John | Goodhart, Sir Philip |
| Biggs-Davison, Sir John | Goodhew, Sir Victor |
| Blackburn, John | Goodlad, Alastair |
| Bonsor, Sir Nicholas | Gow, Ian |
| Boscawen, Hon Robert | Gower, Sir Raymond |
| Bottomley, Peter (W'wich W) | Grant, Sir Anthony |
| Boyson, Dr Rhodes | Gray, Rt Hon Hamish |
| Braine, Sir Bernard | Greenway, Harry |
| Brinton, Tim | Grieve, Percy |
| Brittan, Rt. Hon. Leon | Griffiths, Peter (Portsm'th N) |
| Brooke, Hon Peter | Grist, Ian |
| Brotherton, Michael | Grylls, Michael |
| Brown, Michael(Brigg & Sc'n) | Gummer, John Selwyn |
| Browne, John (Winchester) | Hamilton, Hon A. |
| Bruce-Gardyne, John | Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury) |
| Budgen, Nick | Hampson, Dr Keith |
| Burden, Sir Frederick | Hannam, John |
| Butcher, John | Haselhurst, Alan |
| Butler, Hon Adam | Hastings, Stephen |
| Carlisle, John (Luton West) | Havers, Rt Hon Sir Michael |
| Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) | Hawksley, Warren |
| Carlisle, Rt Hon M. (R'c'n) | Hayhoe, Barney |
| Chalker, Mrs. Lynda | Heddle, John |
| Channon, Rt. Hon. Paul | Henderson, Barry |
| Chapman, Sydney | Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael |
| Clark, Hon A. (Plym'th, S'n) | Hicks, Robert |
| Clark, Sir W. (Croydon S) | Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L. |
| Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffe) | Hill, James |
| Clegg, Sir Walter | Hogg, Hon Douglas (Gr'th'm) |
| Cockeram, Eric | Holland, Philip (Carlton) |
| Colvin, Michael | Hooson, Tom |
| Cope, John | Hordern, Peter |
| Costain, Sir Albert | Howe, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey |
| Cranborne, Viscount | Howell, Rt Hon D. (G'ldf'd) |
| Critchley, Julian | Hunt, John (Ravensbourne) |
| Crouch, David | Hurd, Rt Hon Douglas |
| Dickens, Geoffrey | Irvine, RtHon Bryant Godman |
| Dorrell, Stephen | Irving, Charles (Cheltenham) |
| Douglas-Hamilton, Lord J. | Jenkin, Rt Hon Patrick |
| Dover, Denshore | Jessel, Toby |
| du Cann, Rt Hon Edward | Johnson Smith, Sir Geoffrey |
| Dunn, Robert (Dartford) | Jopling, Rt Hon Michael |
| Durant, Tony | Joseph, Rt Hon Sir Keith |
| Dykes, Hugh | Kaberry, Sir Donald |
| Eden, Rt Hon Sir John | Kimball, Sir Marcus |
| Edwards, Rt Hon N. (P'broke) | Knight, Mrs Jill |
| Eggar, Tim | Knox, David |
| Elliott, Sir William | Lang, Ian |
| Emery, Sir Peter | Langford-Holt, Sir John |
| Eyre, Reginald | Latham, Michael |
| Fairgrieve, Sir Russell | Lawrence, Ivan |
| Lawson, Rt Hon Nigel | Ridley, Hon Nicholas |
| Le Marchant, Spencer | Ridsdale, Sir Julian |
| Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark | Rippon, Rt Hon Geoffrey |
| Lester, Jim (Beeston) | Roberts, Wyn (Conway) |
| Lewis, Sir Kenneth (Rutland) | Rossi, Hugh |
| Lloyd, Ian (Havant & W'loo) | Rost, Peter |
| Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) | Royle, Sir Anthony |
| Loveridge, John | Rumbold, Mrs A. C. R. |
| Luce, Richard | Sainsbury, Hon Timothy |
| Lyell, Nicholas | St. John-Stevas, Rt Hon N. |
| McCrindle, Robert | Shaw, Giles (Pudsey) |
| Macfarlane, Neil | Shaw, Sir Michael (Scarb') |
| MacKay, John (Argyll) | Shelton, William (Streatham) |
| Macmillan, Rt Hon M. | Shepherd, Colin (Hereford) |
| McNair-Wilson, M. (N'bury) | Shepherd, Richard |
| McNair-Wilson, P. (New F'st) | Shersby, Michael |
| McQuarrie, Albert | Sims, Roger |
| Madel, David | Skeet, T. H. H. |
| Major, John | Smith, Sir Dudley |
| Marland, Paul | Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield) |
| Marlow, Antony | Speed, Keith |
| Marshall, Michael (Arundel) | Speller, Tony |
| Marten, Rt Hon Neil | Spence, John |
| Mates, Michael | Spicer, Michael (S Worcs) |
| Mather, Carol | Sproat, Iain |
| Maude, Rt Hon Sir Angus | Squire, Robin |
| Mawby, Ray | Stanbrook, Ivor |
| Mawhinney, Dr Brian | Stanley, John |
| Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin | Steen, Anthony |
| Mayhew, Patrick | Stokes, John |
| Mellor, David | Stradling Thomas, J. |
| Meyer, Sir Anthony | Tapsell, Peter |
| Miller, Hal (B'grove) | Taylor, Teddy (S'end E) |
| Mills, Iain (Meriden) | Tebbit, Rt Hon Norman |
| Mills, Sir Peter (West Devon) | Temple-Morris, Peter |
| Miscampbell, Norman | Thatcher, Rt Hon Mrs M. |
| Moate, Roger | Thomas, Rt Hon Peter |
| Monro, Sir Hector | Thompson, Donald |
| Montgomery, Fergus | Thorne, Neil (llford South) |
| Moore, John | Thornton, Malcolm |
| Morrison, Hon C. (Devizes) | Townend, John (Bridlington) |
| Morrison, Hon P. (Chester) | Townsend, Cyril D, (B'heath) |
| Mudd, David | Trippier, David |
| Murphy, Christopher | van Straubenzee, Sir W. |
| Myles, David | Vaughan, Dr Gerard |
| Neale, Gerrard | Waddington, David |
| Needham, Richard | Wakeham, John |
| Nelson, Anthony | Waldegrave, Hon William |
| Neubert, Michael | Walker, Rt Hon P.(W'cester) |
| Newton, Tony | Walker, B. (Perth) |
| Onslow, Cranley | Wall, Sir Patrick |
| Oppenheim, Rt Hon Mrs S. | Waller, Gary |
| Osborn, John | Walters, Dennis |
| Page, John (Harrow, West) | Ward, John |
| Page, Richard (SW Herts) | Warren, Kenneth |
| Parris, Matthew | Watson, John |
| Patten, Christopher (Bath) | Wells, Bowen |
| Patten, John (Oxford) | Wells, John (Maidstone) |
| Pattie, Geoffrey | Wheeler, John |
| Pawsey, James | Whitelaw, Rt Hon William |
| Percival, Sir Ian | Whitney, Raymond |
| Pink, R. Bonner | Wickenden, Keith |
| Pollock, Alexander | Wiggin, Jerry |
| Porter, Barry | Wilkinson, John |
| Prentice, Rt Hon Reg | Williams, D.(Montgomery) |
| Price, Sir David (Eastleigh) | Winterton, Nicholas |
| Prior, Rt Hon James | Wolfson, Mark |
| Proctor, K. Harvey | Young, Sir George (Acton) |
| Raison, Rt Hon Timothy | Younger, Rt Hon George |
| Rathbone, Tim | |
| Rees, Peter (Dover and Deal) | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Rees-Davies, W. R. | Mr. David Hunt and |
| Renton, Tim | Mr. Tristan Garel-Jones. |
| Rhodes James, Robert | |
| NOES | |
| Abse, Leo | Anderson, Donald |
| Adams, Allen | Archer, Rt Hon Peter |
| Allaun, Frank | Ashley, Rt Hon Jack |
| Alton, David | Ashton, Joe |
| Atkinson, N.(H'gey.) | Hamilton, W. W. (C'tral Fife) |
| Bagier, Gordon A.T. | Harrison, Rt Hon Walter |
| Barnett, Guy (Greenwich) | Hart, Rt Hon Dame Judith |
| Barnett, Rt Hon Joel (H'wd) | Haynes, Frank |
| Beith, A. J. | Heffer, Eric S. |
| Bennett, Andrew(St'kp't N) | Holland, S. (L'bth, Vauxh'll) |
| Bidwell, Sydney | Home Robertson, John |
| Booth, Rt Hon Albert | Homewood, William |
| Boothroyd, Miss Betty | Hooley, Frank |
| Bray, Dr Jeremy | Howell, Rt Hon D. |
| Brocklebank-Fowler, C. | Howells, Geraint |
| Brown, Hugh D. (Provan) | Hoyle, Douglas |
| Brown, Ronald W. (H'ckn'y S) | Huckfield, Les |
| Brown, Ron (E'burgh, Leith) | Hughes, Mark (Durham) |
| Buchan, Norman | Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) |
| Callaghan, Rt Hon J. | Hughes, Roy (Newport) |
| Callaghan, Jim (Midd't'n & P) | Hughes, Simon (Bermondsey) |
| Campbell, Ian | Janner, Hon Grevilie |
| Campbell-Savours, Dale | Jay, Rt Hon Douglas |
| Canavan, Dennis | Johnson, James (Hull West) |
| Cant, R. B. | Johnson, Walter (Derby S) |
| Carmichael, Neil | Johnston, Russell (Inverness) |
| Carter-Jones, Lewis | Jones, Rt Hon Alec (Rh'dda) |
| Clark, Dr David (S Shields) | Jones, Barry(East Flint) |
| Clarke,Thomas(C'b'dge,A'rie) | Jones, Dan (Burnley) |
| Cocks, Rt Hon M. (B'stol S) | Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald |
| Cohen, Stanley | Kerr, Russell |
| Coleman, Donald | Kilroy-Silk, Robert |
| Concannon, Rt Hon J. D. | Lambie, David |
| Conlan, Bernard | Lamond, James |
| Cook, Robin F. | Leighton, Ronald |
| Cowans, Harry | Lestor, Miss Joan |
| Craigen, J. M. (G'gow, M'hill) | Lewis, Arthur (N'ham NW) |
| Crawshaw, Richard | Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) |
| Crowther, Stan | Litherland, Robert |
| Cryer, Bob | Lofthouse, Geoffrey |
| Cunliffe, Lawrence | Lyon, Alexander (York) |
| Cunningham, G. (Islington S) | Mabon, Rt Hon Dr J. Dickson |
| Dalyell, Tam | McDonald, Dr Oonagh |
| Davidson, Arthur | McGuire, Michael (Ince) |
| Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (L'lli) | McKelvey, William |
| Davis, Clinton (Hackney C) | MacKenzie, Rt Hon Gregor |
| Davis, Terry (B'ham, Stechf'd) | Maclennan, Robert |
| Deakins, Eric | McNamara, Kevin |
| Dean, Joseph (Leeds West) | McTaggart, Robert |
| Dewar, Donald | McWilliam, John |
| Dixon, Donald | Marks, Kenneth |
| Dormand, Jack | Marshall, D(G'gow S'ton) |
| Douglas, Dick | Marshall, Dr Edmund (Goole) |
| Dubs, Alfred | Marshall, Jim (Leicester S) |
| Duffy, A. E. P. | Martin, M(G'gow S'burn) |
| Dunnett, Jack | Mason, Rt Hon Roy |
| Dunwoody, Hon Mrs G. | Maxton, John |
| Eadie, Alex | Maynard, Miss Joan |
| Eastham, Ken | Meacher, Michael |
| Ellis, R. (NE D'bysh're) | Mikardo, Ian |
| Ellis, Tom (Wrexham) | Millan, Rt Hon Bruce |
| English, Michael | Mitchell, R. C. (Soton Itchen) |
| Ennals, Rt Hon David | Morris, Rt Hon A. (W'shawe) |
| Evans, loan (Aberdare) | Morris, Rt Hon C. (O'shaw) |
| Evans, John (Newton) | Morris, Rt Hon J. (Aberavon) |
| Ewing, Harry | Moyle, Rt Hon Roland |
| Faulds, Andrew | Mulley, Rt Hon Frederick |
| Flannery, Martin | Newens, Stanley |
| Foot, Rt Hon Michael | Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon |
| Ford, Ben | O'Neill, Martin |
| Forrester, John | Orme, Rt Hon Stanley |
| Foster, Derek | Palmer, Arthur |
| Foulkes, George | Park, George |
| Fraser, J. (Lamb'th, N'w'd) | Parker, John |
| Freeson, Rt Hon Reginald | Pavitt, Laurie |
| Freud, Clement | Pendry, Tom |
| Garrett, John (Norwich S) | Penhaligon, David |
| George, Bruce | Powell, Raymond (Ogmore) |
| Gilbert, Rt Hon Dr John | Prescott, John |
| Ginsburg, David | Price, C. (Lewisham W) |
| Golding, John | Race, Reg |
| Gourlay, Harry | Radice, Giles |
| Graham, Ted | Richardson, Jo |
| Hamilton, James (Bothwell) | Roberts, Albert (Normanton) |
| Roberts, Allan (Bootle) | Thorne, Stan (Preston South) |
| Roberts, Ernest (Hackney N) | Tilley, John |
| Roberts, Gwilym (Cannock) | Torney, Tom |
| Robinson, G. (Coventry NW) | Varley, Rt Hon Eric G. |
| Rooker, J. W. | Wainwright, E(Dearne V) |
| Roper, John | Wainwright,R.(Colne V) |
| Ross, Ernest (Dundee West) | Walker, Rt Hon H.(D'caster) |
| Rowlands, Ted | Wardell, Gareth |
| Ryman, John | Watkins, David |
| Sever, John | Weetch, Ken |
| Sheldon, Rt Hon R. | Welsh, Michael |
| Short, Mrs Renèe | White, Frank R. |
| Silkin, Rt Hon J. (Deptford) | White, J. (G'gow Pollok) |
| Silkin, Rt Hon S. C. (Dulwich) | Whitehead, Phillip |
| Silverman, Julius | Whitlock, William |
| Skinner, Dennis | Wigley, Dafydd |
| Smith, Rt Hon J. (N Lanark) | Willey, Rt Hon Frederick |
| Snape, Peter | Williams, Rt Hon A.(S'sea W) |
| Soley, Clive | Williams, Rt Hon Mrs(Crosby) |
| Spearing, Nigel | Wilson, Gordon (Dundee E) |
| Spellar, John Francis (B'ham) | Wilson, Rt Hon Sir H.(H'ton) |
| Spriggs, Leslie | Wilson, William (C'try SE) |
| Steel, Rt Hon David | Winnick, David |
| Stewart, Rt Hon D.(W Isles) | Woodall, Alec |
| Stoddart, David | Woolmer, Kenneth |
| Stott, Roger | Wright, Sheila |
| Strang, Gavin | Young, David (Bolton E) |
| Straw, Jack | |
| Summerskill, Hon Dr Shirley | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Taylor, Mrs Ann (Bolton W) | Mr. Allen McKay and |
| Thomas, Jeffrey (Abertillery) | Mr. George Morton. |
| Thomas, Dr R. (Carmarthen) |
§ Question accordingly agreed to.
§ Bill read the Third time and passed.