HC Deb 21 June 1989 vol 155 cc431-40

Question again proposed, That the Bill be now read the Third time.

Mr. Gummer

Is it democratic for the chief executive of a local authority, who advises all parts of a local council and who is duty bound to give impartial advice to all members of that authority, also to be chairman of the local Labour party?

Mr. Blunkett

The Opposition made it clear in new clauses 2, 3 and 4 that we were in favour of a code of practice which differentiated between, first, the restrictions that should be imposed on senior council officers standing for other authorities—what is generally known as twin-tracking—as we made clear again tonight, and, secondly, how people should maintain probity and sensibility in undertaking their tasks outside their working life in pursuing their democratic rights. We said that such a code of practice should be tried for one year.

Many of us would consider it inappropriate for a chief executive to hold a high-profile political position in a political party, but we would not seek to legislate to remove the rights of 130,000 people in order to prevent that happening. We do not believe in dealing with the worries about the few by removing the rights of the many. That is what we are talking about. [Interruption.]

Madam Deputy Speaker

Order. The hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) must be heard.

Mr. Blunkett

There are some advantages in not being able to see the distorted faces of the Ministers.

It is because we believe that in a democracy there is nothing more fundamental than the right to express a view openly that we are putting forward our view that the Bill is unacceptable. What could be worse than someone asking a fellow member of the council to put a poster in a window, knock on a door or write a letter, only to be told that it is more than his job is worth and that he will be sacked for exercising his democratic right?

The vindictiveness expressed against local authority officers applies equally to councillors. The only suggestion as to how local councillors should carry out their duties under the new regulations is that they should have more evening meetings. Some Conservative Members may have carried out their duties as councillors effectively and understood that, in order to be in touch with their electorate, to have surgeries and to take part in their own political party, they should have evening meetings, while running cities, counties and boroughs during the day. Councillors should be given time off to do that, and they should be properly remunerated—not the £51,000 per year that the chairman of the Yorkshire water authority reaps, nor the £57,000 that the chairman of the London residuary body reaps, but a small and reasonable remuneration to ensure that they can do their job.

We see the same restrictions and market forces implied in respect of economic development, joint companies and capital investment. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) for his comments, but he must not be under any illusions. Last week's Government amendments leave very much in the balance joint partnership ventures, economic regeneration and investment in the future. Local authorities will not easily be able to enter into partnerships with the private sector, and voluntary bodies are under threat. The arts lobby is very concerned that the very act of being associated with and receiving investment from local authorities will bring it and the local authorities within the ambit of the Bill's restrictions.

The Bill contains many pernicious provisions, but that which outstrips all the others is the Government's attack on the public rented sector. In Committee, the contribution made by the Minister—I was intrigued to discover that he is a warm-blooded being after all—was to inform right hon. and hon. Members that he did not need central heating because he could wear a woolly vest. That was the Minister's contribution to the issue of public sector housing.

Tonight we have debated the proposition that if market forces do not achieve Government ends, they should be manipulated until they do. The cost of housing in a particular district and the average value of council sales, bearing in mind that the properties being sold are the most expensive, will be interpreted in fixing rents from the centre. The Government will determine rents, and when they have done that they will determine subsidy. When income from rents goes into surplus and the local authority makes a profit, that money must be used to meet the cost of paying housing benefits for other council tenants. The poor will be made to pay for the very poor. Private sector tenants and owner-occupiers enjoy subsidy and tax relief for which we all pay, but local authority tenants will be subsidised by their neighbours and the people on the street.

That twisted logic, which The Times described on 3 February as social engineering, will ensure that in high-cost areas rents will increase still further. By increasing rents and, as the Secretary of State described it last week, bringing them in line with the market, the Government will contribute to higher house prices as well. People seeking housing will not be able to afford to rent or to buy. If they are just above the poverty line they will pay full rent, but if they obtain a mortgage they will be hit by the Chancellor's high interest rates. Young people will be hit whichever way they turn. If that is social engineering with the aim of pushing people out of the south-east, the electorate will have none of it.

We want to see a return to affordable, attainable housing so that people can have a decent roof over their heads. Tonight we shall vote on whether we believe that distortion of the market and Government intervention to implement Government values is acceptable to the country, or whether people should determine for themselves local politics, economic development and investment, and be able to ensure affordable rents. We shall vote on whether such matters are to be decided through our system of political democracy or whether the restrictions and laws of the market place should be imposed on everyone from the centre.

Last week we saw the electorate's decision in respect of the European elections. In next year's local council elections and in the next general election, the Bill's provisions will contribute to the downfall of the Conservative Government.

10.9 pm

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. David Trippier)

Let me begin by saying to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) that I am relieved not to have experienced a repeat of the last occasion when there was a major rail strike. The Bill was in Committee, and the hon. Gentleman will recall that at 10.30 am the Conservatives had a full house, while the Opposition Benches were completely empty.

Mr. Tony Banks

We were all walking to work, of course.

Mr. Trippier

The hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) certainly was not there. He was probably talking to his parrot at the time.

I felt compelled to jump on to the other side of the Committee, because the hon. Member for Brightside felt a little lonely and I knew that he needed some help and advice. Now the hon. Gentleman has the temerity to accuse Ministers responsible for the Bill of being vindictive. When he stood alone and we bailed him out by delaying discussion, I do not think that our behaviour was vindictive. We could have completed the remaining stages of the Bill in 20 minutes, which would have been a record by any standards; but we chose not to do so.

Having heard the contribution of his hon. Friends tonight, I bet that the hon. Gentleman wishes that some of them had stayed away today as they did then. In particular, I do not think that he would have missed the hon. Members for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) and for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist): indeed, I do not think that anyone would miss them.

We have heard from the Opposition the usual mix of exaggeration, half truths and downright misinformation. Of course, they have a huge problem. Apart from the proposals outlined by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, which stem from the independent Widdicombe committee, the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien) has come up with the revelation—which will be on the record for everyone to see—that the Labour party believes in political chief executives. There is a direct conflict between what he said and what has been said by the hon. Member for Brightside.

The truth is that the Bill will achieve greater accountability, encourage better management and strengthen the local democratic process, as my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) said so clearly in his excellent speech.

The Opposition's other problem is that one of the principal aims of the Bill is to focus resources on those in greatest need. It seeks to direct improvement and repair grants to those on lower incomes, and to give more support to the poorer owner-occupiers. It seeks to focus capital expenditure on the areas of most need, and to relate current subsidies to needs so that authorities in poorer areas with more poor tenants will receive a higher proportion of the available subsidy.

Speaker after speaker this evening has attacked that as unfair. What do they want? What is their policy? Do they want to keep improvement grants for the better off-, at the expense of poorer owner-occupiers? Do they want to give fewer resources to the inner cities, and to the poorer authorities of the midlands and the north? Do they really want to retain a central rents system or formula which, by incorporating flat-rate increases regardless of cost, means higher rent increases than necessary in poorer districts and proportionately larger subsidies to richer districts?

Mr. Battle

Will the Minister give way?

Mr. Trippier

I shall refer specifically to the hon. Gentleman in a few moments. He may wish to intervene then, and I shall certainly give him the opportunity. [Interruption.]

Madam Deputy Speaker

Order. I hope that the House will have the courtesy to listen to the Minister when he is winding up this important debate.

Mr. Trippier

Perhaps Labour Members want all the things that I have mentioned. Perhaps they want to spend more taxpayers' money on everyone. That is a strange thought, however. If it is true, Labour party housing policy is based on taxing poorer people and regions to provide grants for owner-occupiers who do not need them, extra resources for the richer southern authorities that draw in higher capital receipts, and increased subsidies to rents in richer areas with higher average incomes and lower unemployment.

The hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) has returned to his favourite topic, minimum housing standards. He is nothing if not persistent. Let me remind the House about his minimum standards. There are 18 of them—enough to keep every environmental health officer in the country busy night and day. It would make the enforcement of income tax seem like a picnic. One of his standards stipulates that Any dwelling shall be so located that the immediate environmental factors are tolerable. What on earth does that mean? Does it mean that if I do not like the view from my kitchen window I can claim that my house is unfit? If the traffic on the road outside my house is heavy at certain times of the day, does that also mean that I can claim that my house is unfit?

Another of the hon. Gentleman's standards is that The habitable room of any dwelling shall comprise a minimum size as specified by the Secretary of State. I see that the hon. Member for Leeds, West is nodding.

Mr. Battle

rose—

Mr. Trippier

All this is from a party that claims conversion to consumer choice and that has attacked the Bill throughout its passage as giving the Secretary of State unacceptable powers.

Mr. Battle

Will the Minister give way?

Mr. Trippier

I shall certainly give way, but the hon. Gentleman must be patient for just a little longer.

The hon. Gentleman suggested in Committee that the Secretary of State is being given unacceptable powers. However, he wants to give the Secretary of State more powers. Is he seriously suggesting that the Secretary of State should prescribe a room size that might condemn thousands of highly desirable houses to unfitness?

I ask the hon. Gentleman this simple question: how many properties in his own constituency would conform to his minimum standards? Would his own house conform to them? Mine certainly does not, nor does the home of my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government or of my other ministerial colleague, the hon. Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley). I give him this undertaking. I shall willingly, on any occasion that is convenient to both of us, visit his home. I know that he is a very hospitable chap. He boasts about Yorkshire hospitality, and I am sure that he will be hospitable, even to a Lancastrian like me. I know that I shall get a cup of tea, or even a little bit more. I am even prepared to bring with me my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South-West. I shall enjoy inspecting the hon. Gentleman's home. If it fails any of the standards on the list of 18, I shall ask his local environmental health officer to provide an estimate of how much it would cost to bring his house up to standard and to multiply it by all other houses in a similar condition in his constituency and throughout the land. His proposal sounds reasonable, but it is totally unworkable, impracticable and interventionist in practice.

Mr. Battle

I am surprised to hear that the Minister has not heard of the Parker Morris standards which specify area, that there should be no dampness and that there should be adequate natural lighting, all of which are in the catalogue of 18. Will the Minister give an undertaking that he will restore the Parker Morris standards that his Government have removed and that the environmental health officers are calling for?

Mr. Trippier

So many additional standards have been laid down by the hon. Gentleman that, if we are not careful, we shall have everything, short of gold taps. It is absolutely ridiculous. The hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends—[Interruption.]

Mr. Tony Banks

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. It may very well be that the Minister is talking rubbish, but we are entitled to hear it. I should be grateful if you would call the House to order.

Madam Deputy Speaker

I have already drawn the attention of the House to the fact that far too many conversations are taking place while the Minister is speaking. I appeal to those hon. Members who wish to continue to hold conversations to do so on the other side of the swing doors.

Mr. Trippier

Of course until very recently Opposition Members had no alternative but to attack our policy. They had no alternative policy to offer. But the famed Labour party policy review has now been published and the cat is out of the bag. Opposition Members rebutted criticisms a score of times by referring to the clear statement of Labour's housing policy that was to come. It is the alternative to the Bill. Now that we have it all our questions can be answered. Now we learn how more grants for all and more subsidies for all regardless of need will be achieved. Calculating what rents will be under our policy, according to the hon. Member for Brightside, takes only a matter of minutes, and presumably can be worked out on the back of an envelope. So one can assume fairly safely, given the time that Opposition Members spent putting together their alternative to the Bill, which is referred to in their document, that that would be their answer.

Mr. George Howarth

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am grateful to the Minister for taking time to publicise the Labour party's excellent housing policy which appears in the review. However, as the Labour party's policy is not contained in the Bill, is the Minister in order?

Madam Deputy Speaker

The hon. Gentleman can leave it to the occupant of the Chair to determine whether the Minister is in order.

Mr. Trippier

I am most anxious to stay in order.

I have heard a number of Opposition Members refer to their alternative policy, which is precisely what we are discussing.

Mr. O'Brien

Will the Minister give way?

Mr. Trippier

I shall not give way. I have taken a number of interventions from Opposition Members, and as it is after 10 o'clock I am anxious to wind up.

I hope that Opposition Members will explain to the House and to the rest of the country who will pay for the extra subsidies that they would make available. It is clear that people in the midlands and the north will pay, as the Bill seeks to give fairer treatment to local authorities in the greatest need.

The Labour party's policy is a jumble of vague platitudes, a nod in the direction of every conceivable interest group. It was supposed to have been a review, but it is a recipe that has not changed one jot. It proposes to spend more money on everything and everyone. In direct contrast, the Government are proud to be the champion of greater efficiency in local authorities, greater accountability in housing management and the directing of resources to those in greatest need. The Bill enshrines those policies, and I commend it to the House.

Question put, That the Bill be now read the Third time:—

The House divided: Ayes 310, Noes 206.

Division No. 257] [10.22 pm
AYES
Adley, Robert Cran, James
Aitken, Jonathan Critchley, Julian
Alexander, Richard Currie, Mrs Edwina
Alison, Rt Hon Michael Curry, David
Allason, Rupert Davies, Q. (Stamf'd & Spald'g)
Amess, David Davis, David (Boothferry)
Amos, Alan Day, Stephen
Arbuthnot, James Devlin, Tim
Arnold, Jacques (Gravesham) Dicks, Terry
Arnold, Tom (Hazel Grove) Dorrell, Stephen
Ashby, David Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James
Aspinwall, Jack Dover, Den
Atkins, Robert Dunn, Bob
Baker, Rt Hon K. (Mole Valley) Dykes, Hugh
Baker, Nicholas (Dorset N) Eggar, Tim
Baldry, Tony Emery, Sir Peter
Banks, Robert (Harrogate) Evans, David (Welwyn Hatf'd)
Batiste, Spencer Evennett, David
Bellingham, Henry Fairbairn, Sir Nicholas
Bendall, Vivian Fallon, Michael
Bennett, Nicholas (Pembroke) Favell, Tony
Benyon, W. Field, Barry (Isle of Wight)
Bevan, David Gilroy Fishburn, John Dudley
Biffen, Rt Hon John Forman, Nigel
Blackburn, Dr John G. Forsyth, Michael (Stirling)
Bonsor, Sir Nicholas Forth, Eric
Boscawen, Hon Robert Fox, Sir Marcus
Boswell, Tim Franks, Cecil
Bottomley, Peter Freeman, Roger
Bottomley, Mrs Virginia French, Douglas
Bowden, A (Brighton K'pto'n) Fry, Peter
Bowden, Gerald (Dulwich) Gardiner, George
Bowis, John Garel-Jones, Tristan
Boyson, Rt Hon Dr Sir Rhodes Gill, Christopher
Braine, Rt Hon Sir Bernard Gilmour, Rt Hon Sir Ian
Brandon-Bravo, Martin Glyn, Dr Alan
Brazier, Julian Goodhart, Sir Philip
Bright, Graham Goodlad, Alastair
Brooke, Rt Hon Peter Goodson-Wickes, Dr Charles
Brown, Michael (Brigg & Cl't's) Gorman, Mrs Teresa
Browne, John (Winchester) Gorst, John
Bruce, Ian (Dorset South) Gow, Ian
Buchanan-Smith, Rt Hon Alick Grant, Sir Anthony (CambsSW)
Budgen, Nicholas Greenway, Harry (Ealing N)
Burns, Simon Gregory, Conal
Burt, Alistair Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth N)
Butcher, John Grist, Ian
Butler, Chris Ground, Patrick
Butterfill, John Grylls, Michael
Carlisle, John, (Luton N) Gummer, Rt Hon John Selwyn
Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) Hague, William
Carrington, Matthew Hamilton, Neil (Tatton)
Carttiss, Michael Hampson, Dr Keith
Cash, William Hanley, Jeremy
Channon, Rt Hon Paul Hannam, John
Chapman, Sydney Hargreaves, A. (B'ham H'll Gr')
Chope, Christopher Hargreaves, Ken (Hyndburn)
Churchill, Mr Harris, David
Clark, Dr Michael (Rochford) Haselhurst, Alan
Clark, Sir W. (Croydon S) Hawkins, Christopher
Clarke, Rt Hon K. (Rushcliffe) Hayes, Jerry
Colvin, Michael Hayward, Robert
Conway, Derek Heddle, John
Coombs, Anthony (Wyre F'rest) Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael
Coombs, Simon (Swindon) Hicks, Mrs Maureen (Wolv' NE)
Cope, Rt Hon John Hicks, Robert (Cornwall SE)
Cormack, Patrick Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L.
Couchman, James Hill, James
Hind, Kenneth Norris, Steve
Hogg, Hon Douglas (Gr'th'm) Onslow, Rt Hon Cranley
Holt, Richard Oppenheim, Phillip
Hordern, Sir Peter Page, Richard
Howard, Michael Paice, James
Howarth, Alan (Strat'd-on-A) Patnick, Irvine
Howarth, G. (Cannock & B'wd) Patten, Rt Hon Chris (Bath)
Hughes, Robert G. (Harrow W) Patten, John (Oxford W)
Hunt, David (Wirral W) Pawsey, James
Hunter, Andrew Peacock, Mrs Elizabeth
Hurd, Rt Hon Douglas Porter, Barry (Wirral S)
Irvine, Michael Porter, David (Waveney)
Irving, Charles Price, Sir David
Jack, Michael Raison, Rt Hon Timothy
Jackson, Robert Redwood, John
Janman, Tim Renton, Tim
Johnson Smith, Sir Geoffrey Rhodes James, Robert
Jones, Gwilym (Cardiff N) Riddick, Graham
Jones, Robert B (Herts W) Ridley, Rt Hon Nicholas
Jopling, Rt Hon Michael Ridsdale, Sir Julian
Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine Roberts, Wyn (Conwy)
Key, Robert Roe, Mrs Marion
Kilfedder, James Rossi, Sir Hugh
King, Roger (B'ham N'thfield) Rost, Peter
King, Rt Hon Tom (Bridgwater) Rumbold, Mrs Angela
Kirkhope, Timothy Sackville, Hon Tom
Knapman, Roger Sainsbury, Hon Tim
Knight, Greg (Derby North) Sayeed, Jonathan
Knight, Dame Jill (Edgbaston) Shaw, David (Dover)
Knox, David Shaw, Sir Michael (Scarb')
Lamont, Rt Hon Norman Shelton, Sir William
Lang, Ian Shephard, Mrs G. (Norfolk SW)
Latham, Michael Shepherd, Colin (Hereford)
Lawrence, Ivan Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge)
Leigh, Edward (Gainsbor'gh) Sims, Roger
Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark Skeet, Sir Trevor
Lester, Jim (Broxtowe) Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield)
Lilley, Peter Soames, Hon Nicholas
Lloyd, Sir Ian (Havant) Speller, Tony
Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) Spicer, Sir Jim (Dorset W)
Lyell, Sir Nicholas Spicer, Michael (S Worcs)
McCrindle, Robert Squire, Robin
Macfarlane, Sir Neil Stanbrook, Ivor
MacGregor, Rt Hon John Stanley, Rt Hon Sir John
MacKay, Andrew (E Berkshire) Steen, Anthony
Maclean, David Stern, Michael
McLoughlin, Patrick Stevens, Lewis
McNair-Wilson, Sir Michael Stewart, Allan (Eastwood)
McNair-Wilson, Sir Patrick Stewart, Andy (Sherwood)
Madel, David Stewart, Rt Hon Ian (Herts N)
Major, Rt Hon John Stokes, Sir John
Mans, Keith Stradling Thomas, Sir John
Maples, John Summerson, Hugo
Marland, Paul Tapsell, Sir Peter
Marlow, Tony Taylor, Ian (Esher)
Marshall, John (Hendon S) Taylor, John M (Solihull)
Marshall, Michael (Arundel) Taylor, Teddy (S'end E)
Martin, David (Portsmouth S) Tebbit, Rt Hon Norman
Maude, Hon Francis Temple-Morris, Peter
Mawhinney, Dr Brian Thatcher, Rt Hon Margaret
Mayhew, Rt Hon Sir Patrick Thompson, Patrick (Norwich N)
Mellor, David Thome, Neil
Miller, Sir Hal Thornton, Malcolm
Mills, Iain Thurnham, Peter
Miscampbell, Norman Townend, John (Bridlington)
Mitchell, Andrew (Gedling) Townsend, Cyril D. (B'heath)
Moate, Roger Tracey, Richard
Moore, Rt Hon John Tredinnick, David
Morris, M (N'hampton S) Trippier, David
Morrison, Rt Hon P (Chester) Trotter, Neville
Moss, Malcolm Twinn, Dr Ian
Moynihan, Hon Colin Vaughan, Sir Gerard
Neale, Gerrard Waddington, Rt Hon David
Needham, Richard Wakeham, Rt Hon John
Nelson, Anthony Walker, Bill (T'side North)
Neubert, Michael Waller, Gary
Newton, Rt Hon Tony Walters, Sir Dennis
Nicholls, Patrick Ward, John
Nicholson, David (Taunton) Wardle, Charles (Bexhill)
Nicholson, Emma (Devon West) Warren, Kenneth
Watts, John Wolfson, Mark
Wells, Bowen Wood, Timothy
Whitney, Ray Yeo, Tim
Widdecombe, Ann Young, Sir George (Acton)
Wiggin, Jerry Younger, Rt Hon George
Wilkinson, John
Wilshire, David Tellers for the Ayes:
Winterton, Mrs Ann Mr. Tony Durant and
Winterton, Nicholas Mr. David Lightbown.
NOES
Abbott, Ms Diane Darling, Alistair
Adams, Allen (Paisley N) Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli)
Allen, Graham Davies, Ron (Caerphilly)
Alton, David Davis, Terry (B'ham Hodge H'I)
Anderson, Donald Dewar, Donald
Archer, Rt Hon Peter Dixon, Don
Armstrong, Hilary Dobson, Frank
Ashdown, Rt Hon Paddy Doran, Frank
Ashley, Rt Hon Jack Douglas, Dick
Banks, Tony (Newham NW) Duffy, A. E. P.
Barnes, Harry (Derbyshire NE) Dunnachie, Jimmy
Barnes, Mrs Rosie (Greenwich) Eadie, Alexander
Battle, John Eastham, Ken
Beckett, Margaret Fatchett, Derek
Beith, A. J. Fearn, Ronald
Bell, Stuart Field, Frank (Birkenhead)
Benn, Rt Hon Tony Fields, Terry (L'pool B G'n)
Bennett, A. F. (D'nt'n & R'dish) Fisher, Mark
Bidwell, Sydney Flannery, Martin
Blair, Tony Flynn, Paul
Blunkett, David Foot, Rt Hon Michael
Boateng, Paul Foster, Derek
Boyes, Roland Fraser, John
Bradley, Keith Fyfe, Maria
Brown, Gordon (D'mline E) Galbraith, Sam
Brown, Nicholas (Newcastle E) Galloway, George
Bruce, Malcolm (Gordon) Garrett, John (Norwich South)
Buckley, George J. Garrett, Ted (Wallsend)
Callaghan, Jim George, Bruce
Campbell, Menzies (Fife NE) Gilbert, Rt Hon Dr John
Campbell-Savours, D. N. Godman, Dr Norman A.
Cartwright, John Golding, Mrs Llin
Clark, Dr David (S Shields) Gordon, Mildred
Clarke, Tom (Monklands W) Gould, Bryan
Clay, Bob Graham, Thomas
Clelland, David Grant, Bernie (Tottenham)
Clwyd, Mrs Ann Griffiths, Win (Bridgend)
Cohen, Harry Grocott, Bruce
Cook, Robin (Livingston) Harman, Ms Harriet
Corbett, Robin Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy
Corbyn, Jeremy Haynes, Frank
Cousins, Jim Healey, Rt Hon Denis
Cox, Tom Henderson, Doug
Crowther, Stan Hinchliffe, David
Cryer, Bob Hoey, Ms Kate (Vauxhall)
Cummings, John Hogg, N. (C'nauld & Kilsyth)
Cunliffe, Lawrence Home Robertson, John
Cunningham, Dr John Hood, Jimmy
Dalyell, Tarn Howarth, George (Knowsley N)
Howells, Geraint Prescott, John
Howells, Dr. Kim (Pontypridd) Primarolo, Dawn
Hoyle, Doug Quin, Ms Joyce
Hughes, John (Coventry NE) Radice, Giles
Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) Redmond, Martin
Hughes, Roy (Newport E) Rees, Rt Hon Merlyn
Hughes, Simon (Southwark) Reid, Dr John
Illsley, Eric Richardson, Jo
Janner, Greville Roberts, Allan (Bootle)
Jones, Barry (Alyn & Deeside) Robertson, George
Jones, Ieuan (Ynys Môn) Robinson, Geoffrey
Jones, Martyn (Clwyd S W) Rooker, Jeff
Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald Ross, Ernie (Dundee W)
Kirkwood, Archy Rowlands, Ted
Leadbitter, Ted Ruddock, Joan
Leighton, Ron Salmond, Alex
Lestor, Joan (Eccles) Sedgemore, Brian
Livingstone, Ken Sheerman, Barry
Livsey, Richard Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert
Lloyd, Tony (Stretford) Shore, Rt Hon Peter
Lofthouse, Geoffrey Short, Clare
Loyden, Eddie Skinner, Dennis
McAllion, John Smith, Andrew (Oxford E)
McAvoy, Thomas Smith, C. (Isl'ton & F'bury)
McFall, John Smith, Rt Hon J. (Monk'ds E)
McKay, Allen (Barnsley West) Smith, J. P. (Vale of Glam)
McKelvey, William Snape, Peter
McLeish, Henry Spearing, Nigel
Maclennan, Robert Steel, Rt Hon David
McNamara, Kevin Steinberg, Gerry
McWilliam, John Stott, Roger
Madden, Max Strang, Gavin
Mahon, Mrs Alice Straw, Jack
Marek, Dr John Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury)
Marshall, David (Shettleston) Taylor, Matthew (Truro)
Martin, Michael J. (Springburn) Thompson, Jack (Wansbeck)
Martlew, Eric Turner, Dennis
Meale, Alan Vaz, Keith
Michael, Alun Wall, Pat
Michie, Bill (Sheffield Heeley) Wallace, James
Michie, Mrs Ray (Arg'l & Bute) Walley, Joan
Mitchell, Austin (G't Grimsby) Wardell, Gareth (Gower)
Moonie, Dr Lewis Watson, Mike (Glasgow, C)
Morgan, Rhodri Welsh, Andrew (Angus E)
Morley, Elliott Welsh, Michael (Doncaster N)
Morris, Rt Hon A. (W'shawe) Wigley, Dafydd
Morris, Rt Hon J. (Aberavon) Williams, Rt Hon Alan
Mullin, Chris Williams, Alan W. (Carm'then)
Murphy, Paul Winnick, David
Nellist, Dave Wise, Mrs Audrey
O'Brien, William Wray, Jimmy
Orme, Rt Hon Stanley Young, David (Bolton SE)
Patchett, Terry
Pendry, Tom Tellers for the Noes:
Pike, Peter L. Mr. Frank Cook and
Powell, Ray (Ogmore) Mr. Robert N. Wareing.

Question accordingly agreed to.

Bill read the Third time, and passed.