§ Order for Third Reading read.
11.27 pm§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Christopher Chope)I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.
This was the first Bill to receive a Second Reading in this Parliament. It will not be the first to receive its Third Reading and that is because we had 100 hours deliberating it in detail in Committee in 29 sittings. That was a thorough consideration of the Bill.
The two main provisions of the Bill concern compulsory competitive tendering and the outlawing of anti-competitive contract compliance clauses. It is significant that both those subjects were the subject of early day motions supported by many of my hon. Friends in the previous Parliament.
It is the Government's established policy to ensure that we obtain better value for money in local government. The Bill will facilitate that and it deserves the strong and enthusiastic support of the House.
§ Dr. John Cunningham (Copeland)This may not be the first Bill to receive its Third Reading in this Parliament—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Dr. CunninghamHowever—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I suspend the sitting for five minutes while the Strangers' Gallery is cleared.
§ Sitting suspended at 11.30 pm.
11.35 pm§ Mr. Speakerresumed the Chair.
§ Dr. CunninghamThe Under-Secretary of State said that this was the first Bill to complete its stages in the House this session. There will be few Bills more obnoxious than this one. It takes powers away from local authorities, it curbs their rights to use the media, it supports the Fascist apartheid regime in South Africa. [Interruption.] The Bill specifically brings aid and comfort to the apartheid regime in South Africa. It has the unique distinction of undermining civil rights abroad and doing exactly the same at home. Few Bills going through the House have that unique obnoxious facet. We are totally opposed to all its aspects, and we will divide the House on Third Reading.
§ Mr. Simon HughesI endorse what the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) has said. there are four parts to the Bill, all of which are equally unacceptable to these Benches. We oppose competitive tendering being compulsorily imposed on local government, not because it is bad, but because the Government are compelling local authorities to do it according to the Government's wish. Hon. Members are not alone in opposing that aspect of the Bill, because competitive tendering is opposed by all the organisations of local government outside the House. It is also opposed by the Audit Commission, by academics and around the land.
The Minister said in relation to previous debates this evening that we are all against discrimination, yet it is clear in part II that the Government are prepared to 1040 countenance discrimination at home in relation to those with disabilities, ethnic minorities and women, and abroad particularly in relation to South Africa. By preventing local authorities from taking a moral stand on South Africa the Government have declared their true intentions and true colours and their willingness to sustain that regime.
On housing, the Government are preventing schemes that should have been able to go ahead, and they are preventing local authorities from being able to sell properties to housing associations at a reasonable price.
In the last part of the Bill the Government are adding to restrictions on local authority publicity, for which they have given no justification. Tonight they have evidenced their clear prejudice on matters of discrimination in relation to homosexuals and homosexuality, and, to cap it all, they are even to abolish the dog licence.
The Bill should be rejected. It enshrines more selfishness in the law of the land and confirms the dogma and prejudice for which the Government will be particularly remembered. Their morality is not the morality of the Opposition or of the country. The Bill must be resisted, and I hope that it will be defeated before it completes its passage through the House.
§ Question put, That the Bill be now read the Third time:—
§ The House divided: Ayes 308, Noes 215.
1043| Division No. 119] | [11.40 pm |
| AYES | |
| Adley, Robert | Budgen, Nicholas |
| Alison, Rt Hon Michael | Burns, Simon |
| Allason, Rupert | Burt, Alistair |
| Amess, David | Butler, Chris |
| Amos, Alan | Butterfill, John |
| Arbuthnot, James | Carlisle, John, (Luton N) |
| Arnold, Jacques (Gravesham) | Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) |
| Arnold, Tom (Hazel Grove) | Carrington, Matthew |
| Ashby, David | Carttiss, Michael |
| Aspinwall, Jack | Cash, William |
| Atkins, Robert | Channon, Rt Hon Paul |
| Atkinson, David | Chope, Christopher |
| Baker, Rt Hon K. (Mole Valley) | Clark, Hon Alan (Plym'th S'n) |
| Baker, Nicholas (Dorset N) | Clark, Dr Michael (Rochford) |
| Baldry, Tony | Clark, Sir W. (Croydon S) |
| Banks, Robert (Harrogate) | Clarke, Rt Hon K. (Rushcliffe) |
| Batiste, Spencer | Colvin, Michael |
| Beaumont-Dark, Anthony | Conway, Derek |
| Bellingham, Henry | Coombs, Simon (Swindon) |
| Bendall, Vivian | Cope, John |
| Bennett, Nicholas (Pembroke) | Cormack, Patrick |
| Benyon, W. | Couchman, James |
| Bevan, David Gilroy | Cran, James |
| Bitten, Rt Hon John | Currie, Mrs Edwina |
| Blackburn, Dr John G. | Davies, Q. (Stamf'd & Spald'g) |
| Blaker, Rt Hon Sir Peter | Davis, David (Boothferry) |
| Body, Sir Richard | Day, Stephen |
| Bonsor, Sir Nicholas | Devlin, Tim |
| Boswell, Tim | Dickens, Geoffrey |
| Bottomley, Peter | Dorrell, Stephen |
| Bottomley, Mrs Virginia | Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James |
| Bowden, A (Brighton K'pto'n) | Dover, Den |
| Bowden, Gerald (Dulwich) | Dunn, Bob |
| Bowis, John | Durant, Tony |
| Boyson, Rt Hon Dr Sir Rhodes | Eggar, Tim |
| Braine, Rt Hon Sir Bernard | Emery, Sir Peter |
| Brandon-Bravo, Martin | Evans, David (Welwyn Hatf'd) |
| Brazier, Julian | Fallon, Michael |
| Bright, Graham | Farr, Sir John |
| Brooke, Hon Peter | Fenner, Dame Peggy |
| Brown, Michael (Brigg & Cl't's) | Field, Barry (Isle of Wight) |
| Browne, John (Winchester) | Finsberg, Sir Geoffrey |
| Bruce, Ian (Dorset South) | Fookes, Miss Janet |
| Buchanan-Smith, Rt Hon Alick | Forman, Nigel |
| Forth, Eric | Lord, Michael |
| Fowler, Rt Hon Norman | Lyell, Sir Nicholas |
| Fox, Sir Marcus | Macfarlane, Neil |
| Freeman, Roger | MacKay, Andrew (E Berkshire) |
| French, Douglas | Maclean, David |
| Fry, Peter | McLoughlin, Patrick |
| Gale, Roger | McNair-Wilson, M. (Newbury) |
| Gardiner, George | McNair-Wilson, P. (New Forest) |
| Gill, Christopher | Major, Rt Hon John |
| Glyn, Dr Alan | Malins, Humfrey |
| Goodhart, Sir Philip | Mans, Keith |
| Goodson-Wickes, Dr Charles | Maples, John |
| Gorman, Mrs Teresa | Marland, Paul |
| Gow, Ian | Marlow, Tony |
| Gower, Sir Raymond | Martin, David (Portsmouth S) |
| Grant, Sir Anthony (CambsSW) | Maude, Hon Francis |
| Greenway, Harry (Ealing N) | Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin |
| Greenway, John (Rydale) | Mayhew, Rt Hon Sir Patrick |
| Gregory, Conal | Mellor, David |
| Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth N) | Meyer, Sir Anthony |
| Grist, Ian | Miller, Hal |
| Ground, Patrick | Mills, Iain |
| Grylls, Michael | Mitchell, Andrew (Gedling) |
| Hamilton, Hon A. (Epsom) | Mitchell, David (Hants NW) |
| Hamilton, Neil (Tatton) | Monro, Sir Hector |
| Hampson, Dr Keith | Montgomery, Sir Fergus |
| Hanley, Jeremy | Morris, M (N'hampton S) |
| Hannam, John | Morrison, Hon C. (Devizes) |
| Hargreaves, A. (B'ham H'll Gr') | Morrison, Hon P (Chester) |
| Hargreaves, Ken (Hyndburn) | Moss, Malcolm |
| Harris, David | Moynihan, Hon C. |
| Hawkins, Christopher | Mudd, David |
| Hayes, Jerry | Neale, Gerrard |
| Hayward, Robert | Nelson, Anthony |
| Heathcoat-Amory, David | Neubert, Michael |
| Heddle, John | Newton, Tony |
| Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael | Nicholls, Patrick |
| Hicks, Robert (Cornwall SE) | Nicholson, David (Taunton) |
| Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L. | Nicholson, Miss E. (Devon W) |
| Hill, James | Onslow, Cranley |
| Hind, Kenneth | Oppenheim, Phillip |
| Hogg, Hon Douglas (Gr'th'm) | Page, Richard |
| Holt, Richard | Paice, James |
| Hordern, Sir Peter | Patnick, Irvine |
| Howard, Michael | Patten, Chris (Bath) |
| Howarth, Alan (Strat'd-on-A) | Patten, John (Oxford W) |
| Howarth, G. (Cannock & B'wd) | Pawsey, James |
| Howell, Rt Hon David (G'dford) | Peacock, Mrs Elizabeth |
| Hughes, Robert G. (Harrow W) | Porter, Barry (Wirral S) |
| Hunt, David (Wirral W) | Porter, David (Waveney) |
| Hunt, John (Ravensbourne) | Portillo, Michael |
| Hurd, Rt Hon Douglas | Powell, William (Corby) |
| Irvine, Michael | Price, Sir David |
| Jack, Michael | Raffan, Keith |
| Jackson, Robert | Raison, Rt Hon Timothy |
| Janman, Timothy | Rathbone, Tim |
| Jessel, Toby | Redwood, John |
| Johnson Smith, Sir Geoffrey | Rhodes James, Robert |
| Jones, Gwilym (Cardiff N) | Rhys Williams, Sir Brandon |
| Jones, Robert B (Herts W) | Riddick, Graham |
| Kellett-Bowman, Mrs Elaine | Ridley, Rt Hon Nicholas |
| Key, Robert | Ridsdale, Sir Julian |
| Kilfedder, James | Roberts, Wyn (Conwy) |
| King, Roger (B'ham N'thfield) | Roe, Mrs Marion |
| Kirkhope, Timothy | Rossi, Sir Hugh |
| Knapman, Roger | Rost, Peter |
| Knight, Greg (Derby North) | Rumbold, Mrs Angela |
| Knight, Dame Jill (Edgbaston) | Ryder, Richard |
| Knowles, Michael | Sackville, Hon Tom |
| Knox, David | Sainsbury, Hon Tim |
| Lamont, Rt Hon Norman | Scott, Nicholas |
| Lang, Ian | Shaw, David (Dover) |
| Latham, Michael | Shaw, Sir Giles (Pudsey) |
| Lawrence, Ivan | Shelton, William (Streatham) |
| Lee, John (Pendle) | Shephard, Mrs G. (Norfolk SW) |
| Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark | Shepherd, Colin (Hereford) |
| Lightbown, David | Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge) |
| Lilley, Peter | Shersby, Michael |
| Lloyd, Sir Ian (Havant) | Sims, Roger |
| Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) | Skeet, Sir Trevor |
| Smith, Sir Dudley (Warwick) | Trippier, David |
| Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield) | Trotter, Neville |
| Soames, Hon Nicholas | Twinn, Dr Ian |
| Speed, Keith | Vaughan, Sir Gerard |
| Speller, Tony | Waddington, Rt Hon David |
| Spicer, Jim (Dorset W) | Wakeham, Rt Hon John |
| Spicer, Michael (S Worcs) | Waldegrave, Hon William |
| Squire, Robin | Walden, George |
| Stanbrook, Ivor | Walker, Bill (T'side North) |
| Steen, Anthony | Walker, Rt Hon P. (W'cester) |
| Stern, Michael | Waller, Gary |
| Stevens, Lewis | Walters, Dennis |
| Stewart, Andrew (Sherwood) | Ward, John |
| Stewart, Ian (Hertfordshire N) | Wardle, C. (Bexhill) |
| Stradling Thomas, Sir John | Warren, Kenneth |
| Sumberg, David | Watts, John |
| Summerson, Hugo | Wells, Bowen |
| Tapsell, Sir Peter | Wheeler, John |
| Taylor, Ian (Esher) | Whitney, Ray |
| Taylor, John M (Solihull) | Widdecombe, Miss Ann |
| Taylor, Teddy (S'end E) | Wiggin, Jerry |
| Tebbit, Rt Hon Norman | Wilshire, David |
| Temple-Morris, Peter | Winterton, Mrs Ann |
| Thompson, D. (Calder Valley) | Wolfson, Mark |
| Thompson, Patrick (Norwich N) | Wood, Timothy |
| Thorne, Neil | Woodcock, Mike |
| Thornton, Malcolm | Yeo, Tim |
| Thurnham, Peter | Younger, Rt Hon George |
| Townend, John (Bridlington) | |
| Townsend, Cyril D. (B'heath) | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Tracey, Richard | Mr. Robert Boscawen and |
| Tredinnick, David | Mr. Tristan Garel-Jones. |
| NOES | |
| Abbott, Ms Diane | Cummings, J. |
| Adams, Allen (Paisley N) | Cunliffe, Lawrence |
| Allen, Graham | Cunningham, Dr John |
| Alton, David | Dalyell, Tam |
| Anderson, Donald | Darling, Alastair |
| Archer, Rt Hon Peter | Davies, Ron (Caerphilly) |
| Armstrong, Ms Hilary | Davis, Terry (B'ham Hodge H'I) |
| Ashdown, Paddy | Dixon, Don |
| Ashley, Rt Hon Jack | Dobson, Frank |
| Ashton, Joe | Doran, Frank |
| Banks, Tony (Newham NW) | Dunwoody, Hon Mrs Gwyneth |
| Barnes, Harry (Derbyshire NE) | Eadie, Alexander |
| Barron, Kevin | Eastham, Ken |
| Battle, John | Evans, John (St Helens N) |
| Beckett, Margaret | Ewing, Harry (Falkirk E) |
| Benn, Rt Hon Tony | Ewing, Mrs Margaret (Moray) |
| Bennett, A. F. (D'nt'n & R'dish) | Fatchett, Derek |
| Bermingham, Gerald | Fearn, Ronald |
| Blair, Tony | Field, Frank (Birkenhead) |
| Boateng, Paul | Fields, Terry (L'pool B G'n) |
| Boyes, Roland | Flannery, Martin |
| Bradley, Keith | Flynn, Paul |
| Bray, Dr Jeremy | Foot, Rt Hon Michael |
| Brown, Gordon (D'mline E) | Foster, Derek |
| Brown, Nicholas (Newcastle E) | Foulkes, George |
| Brown, Ron (Edinburgh Leith) | Fraser, John |
| Buchan, Norman | Fyfe, Mrs Maria |
| Buckley, George | Galbraith, Samuel |
| Caborn, Richard | Galloway, George |
| Callaghan, Jim | Garrett, John (Norwich South) |
| Campbell, Ron (Blyth Valley) | George, Bruce |
| Campbell-Savours, D. N. | Gilbert, Rt Hon Dr John |
| Carlile, Alex (Mont'g) | Godman, Dr Norman A. |
| Clark, Dr David (S Shields) | Golding, Mrs Llin |
| Clarke, Tom (Monklands W) | Gordon, Ms Mildred |
| Clay, Bob | Gould, Bryan |
| Clelland, David | Grant, Bernie (Tottenham) |
| Clwyd, Mrs Ann | Griffiths, Nigel (Edinburgh S) |
| Cohen, Harry | Griffiths, Win (Bridgend) |
| Coleman, Donald | Grocott, Bruce |
| Cook, Robin (Livingston) | Hardy, Peter |
| Corbett, Robin | Harman, Ms Harriet |
| Corbyn, Jeremy | Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy |
| Cousins, Jim | Healey, Rt Hon Denis |
| Cox, Tom | Heffer, Eric S. |
| Cryer, Bob | Henderson, Douglas |
| Hinchliffe, David | O'Brien, William |
| Hogg, N. (C'nauld & Kilsyth) | O'Neill, Martin |
| Home Robertson, John | Orme, Rt Hon Stanley |
| Hood, James | Parry, Robert |
| Howarth, George (Knowslay N) | Patchett, Terry |
| Howell, Rt Hon D. (S'heath) | Pendry, Tom |
| Howells, Geraint | Pike, Peter |
| Hoyle, Doug | Powell, Ray (Ogmore) |
| Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) | Primarolo, Ms Dawn |
| Hughes, Roy (Newport E) | Quin, Ms Joyce |
| Hughes, Sean (Knowsley S) | Radice, Giles |
| Hughes, Simon (Southwark) | Randall, Stuart |
| Illsley, Eric | Redmond, Martin |
| Ingram, Adam | Rees, Rt Hon Merlyn |
| Janner, Greville | Reid, John |
| Jones, Barry (Alyn & Deeside) | Richardson, Ms Jo |
| Jones, leuan (Ynys Môn) | Roberts, Allan (Bootle) |
| Jones, Martyn (Clwyd S W) | Robinson, Geoffrey |
| Kennedy, Charles | Rogers, Allan |
| Kinnock, Rt Hon Neil | Rooker, Jeff |
| Kirkwood, Archy | Ross, Ernie (Dundee W) |
| Lambie, David | Rowlands, Ted |
| Lamond, James | Ruddock, Ms Joan |
| Leighton, Ron | Sedgemore, Brian |
| Lestor, Miss Joan (Eccles) | Sheerman, Barry |
| Lewis, Terry | Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert |
| Litherland, Robert | Shore, Rt Hon Peter |
| Livingstone, Ken | Short, Clare |
| Livsey, Richard | Skinner, Dennis |
| Lloyd, Tony (Stratford) | Smith, Andrew (Oxford E) |
| Lofthouse, Geoffrey | Smith, C. (Isl'ton & F'bury) |
| Loyden, Eddie | Smith, Rt Hon J. (Monk'ds E) |
| McAllion, John | Soley, Clive |
| McAvoy, Tom | Spearing, Nigel |
| McCartney, Ian | Steel, Rt Hon David |
| Macdonald, Calum | Steinberg, Gerald |
| McFall, John | Stott, Roger |
| McKay, Allen (Penistone) | Strang, Gavin |
| McKelvey, William | Straw, Jack |
| McLeish, Henry | Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury) |
| McTaggart, Bob | Taylor, Matthew (Truro) |
| Madden, Max | Thomas, Dafydd Elis |
| Mahon, Mrs Alice | Turner, Dennis |
| Marek, Dr John | Wall, Pat |
| Marshall, David (Shettleston) | Wallace, James |
| Marshall, Jim (Leicester S) | Walley, Ms Joan |
| Martin, Michael (Springburn) | Wardell, Gareth (Gower) |
| Martlew, Eric | Wareing, Robert N. |
| Maxton, John | Welsh, Andrew (Angus E) |
| Meacher, Michael | Welsh, Michael (Doncaster N) |
| Meale, Alan | Wigley, Dafydd |
| Michael, Alun | Williams, Rt Hon A. J. |
| Michie, Bill (Sheffield Heeley) | Williams, Alan W. (Carm'then) |
| Millan, Rt Hon Bruce | Wilson, Brian |
| Moonie, Dr Lewis | Winnick, David |
| Morgan, Rhodri | Wise, Mrs Audrey |
| Morley, Elliott | Worthington, Anthony |
| Morris, Rt Hon A (W'shawe) | Wray, James |
| Morris, Rt Hon J (Aberavon) | Young, David (Bolton SE) |
| Mowlam, Mrs Marjorie | |
| Mullin, Chris | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Murphy, Paul | Mr. Frank Haynes and |
| Nellist, Dave | Mr. Frank Cook. |
| Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon |
§ Question accordingly agreed to.
§ Bill read the Third time, and passed.