§ [IST ALLOTTED DAY]
§ Lords amendments considered.
4.55 pm§ Mr. Nigel Spearing (Newham, South)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I apologise for the fact that I was not able to give you notice, but I have only just ascertained a possible problem. Mr. Speaker has grouped together a number of amendments to be considered first. I am in a slight dilemma, because I happen to support some of those amendments and to oppose others. I understand that under the terms of the guillotine motion it is not possible to have separate votes on specific Lords amendments. Is that correct, or will it be possible for an hon. Member to indicate support for some amendments but to dissent from others?
§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Paul Dean)If the time stated in the guillotine motion is reached, it will be possible to have a vote on the main amendment being discussed.
§ Mr. SpearingFurther to the point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I am sorry but, as you will appreciate from the debate on the guillotine motion, the following debate is important. Do I take it that we shall debate Lords amendment No. 1 and amendment (a) thereto, together
§ "The curriculum for every maintained school shall comprise a basic curriculum which includes—
- (a) provision for religious education for all registered pupils at the school; and
- (b) a curriculum for all registered pupils at the school of compulsory school age (to be known as "The National Curriculum") which meets the requirements of subsection (2) below.
§ (2) The curriculum referred to in subsection (1)(b) above shall comprise the core and other foundation subjects and specify"
§
Amendment (a) to the proposed Lords amendment, in line 5, after 'school', insert
'in any area in respect of which an Order has been made by the Secretary of State and has come into effect'.
§
Amendment (b) to the proposed Lords amendment, in line 7, after 'National', insert
'Core Curriculum and the National Foundation'.
§
Amendment (d) to the proposed Lords amendment, in line 10, after 'core' insert
'subjects which shall be mandatory'.
§ Amendment (e) to the proposed Lords amendment, in line 10, after 'subjects' insert 'which shall be advisory'.
§ Lords amendments No. 3, 8 to 16, 147 to 185.
§ "(3) Subsection (1)(a) above shall not apply in the case of a maintained special school."
§
Lords amendment No. 186, in line 3, at end insert—
(1A) No proposals shall be published under this section for the purpose of making a significant change in the religious character of such a school unless the trustees of the school (if any) have given their consent in writing to the change in question.
§ Amendment (a) to the proposed Lords amendment, after 'section', insert `(a)'.
§ Amendment (b) to the proposed Lords amendment, at end insert—
816§ with all the other amendments in the group? The implication of your ruling is that, if the Question is not put on the main amendment until the allocated time is reached, there will be no opportunity to vote on any of the other amendments.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerYes. If the debate on Lords amendment No. 1, together with amendment (a) thereto, were to run the full time it would be possible to have a Division on amendment (a) and on the amendment itself. The Chairman would then be obliged to put the rest of the Lords amendments en bloc.