§
That this House takes note of the Court of Auditors' Report concerning the financial year 1991 together with the institutions' replies (OJ No. C330, Volume 35) and the unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum submitted by HM Treasury on 25th February 1993 relating to the draft Council Recommendation to the European Parliament on the discharge of the General Budget of the European Communities for the financial year 1991.—[Mr. MacKay.]
§ The House divided: Ayes 127, Noes 53.
1034| Division No. 191] | [10.37pm |
| AYES | |
| Ainsworth, Peter (East Surrey) | Forman, Nigel |
| Aitken, Jonathan | Freeman, Roger |
| Alexander, Richard | Gale, Roger |
| Alison, Rt Hon Michael (Selby) | Gallie, Phil |
| Amess, David | Garel-Jones, Rt Hon Tristan |
| Ancram, Michael | Goodson-Wickes, Dr Charles |
| Arbuthnot, James | Greenway, Harry (Ealing N) |
| Arnold, Jacques (Gravesham) | Greenway, John (Ryedale) |
| Arnold, Sir Thomas (Hazel Grv) | Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth, N) |
| Atkinson, Peter (Hexham) | Hague, William |
| Baker, Rt Hon K. (Mole Valley) | Hanley, Jeremy |
| Baker, Nicholas (Dorset North) | Harris, David |
| Beresford, Sir Paul | Haselhurst, Alan |
| Blackburn, Dr John G. | Hawksley, Warren |
| Bonsor, Sir Nicholas | Heald, Oliver |
| Bowis, John | Heathcoat-Amory, David |
| Brandreth, Gyles | Higgins, Rt Hon Sir Terence L. |
| Brazier, Julian | Hughes Robert G. (Harrow W) |
| Bright, Graham | Hunt, Sir John (Ravensbourne) |
| Brown, M. (Brigg & Cl'thorpes) | Hunter, Andrew |
| Browning, Mrs. Angela | Jack, Michael |
| Burt, Alistair | Jones, Gwilym (Cardiff N) |
| Carrington, Matthew | Jones, Robert B. (W Hertfdshr) |
| Carttiss, Michael | Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine |
| Cash, William | Kilfedder, Sir James |
| Clappison, James | King, Rt Hon Tom |
| Clarke, Rt Hon Kenneth (Ruclif) | Knapman, Roger |
| Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey | Knight, Greg (Derby N) |
| Coombs, Simon (Swindon) | Kynoch, George (Kincardine) |
| Cope, Rt Hon Sir John | Lait, Mrs Jacqui |
| Currie, Mrs Edwina (S D'by'ire) | Legg, Barry |
| Davies, Quentin (Stamford) | Lennox-Boyd, Mark |
| Davis, David (Boothferry) | Lidington, David |
| Devlin, Tim | Lightbown, David |
| Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James | Lord, Michael |
| Dover, Den | Luff, Peter |
| Duncan, Alan | Lyell, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas |
| Duncan-Smith, Iain | MacKay, Andrew |
| Elletson, Harold | Maclean, David |
| Evans, Jonathan (Brecon) | Malone, Gerald |
| Faber, David | Mans, Keith |
| Fabricant, Michael | Marlow, Tony |
| Fenner, Dame Peggy | Merchant, Piers |
| Mitchell, Andrew (Gedling) | Stern, Michael |
| Moate, Sir Roger | Stewart, Allan |
| Neubert, Sir Michael | Streeter, Gary |
| Newton, Rt Hon Tony | Taylor, Ian (Esher) |
| Nicholls, Patrick | Thomason, Roy |
| Page, Richard | Thurnham, Peter |
| Porter, David (Waveney) | Trend, Michael |
| Redwood, John | Twinn, Dr Ian |
| Richards, Rod | Viggers, Peter |
| Riddick, Graham | Walden, George |
| Roberts, Rt Hon Sir Wyn | Waller, Gary |
| Robertson, Raymond (Ab'd'n S) | Wardle, Charles (Bexhill) |
| Robinson, Mark (Somerton) | Waterson, Nigel |
| Ryder, Rt Hon Richard | Wheeler, Rt Hon Sir John |
| Shaw, David (Dover) | Whittingdale, John |
| Sims, Roger | Widdecombe, Ann |
| Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield) | Willetts, David |
| Speed, Sir Keith | Wood, Timothy |
| Spencer, Sir Derek | |
| Spink, Dr Robert | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Sproat, Iain | Mr. Irvine Patrick and |
| Steen, Anthony | Mr. Sydney Chapman. |
| Stephen, Michael | |
| NOES | |
| Alton, David | Jones, Jon Owen (Cardiff C) |
| Bayley, Hugh | Kirkwood, Archy |
| Beggs, Roy | Lewis, Terry |
| Beith, Rt Hon A. J. | Loyden, Eddie |
| Bennett, Andrew F. | Lynne, Ms Liz |
| Callaghan, Jim | McAvoy, Thomas |
| Campbell, Menzies (Fife NE) | Martin, Michael J. (Springburn) |
| Campbell-Savours, D. N. | Molyneaux, Rt Hon James |
| Cann, Jamie | O'Brien, William (Normanton) |
| Carlile, Alexander (Montgomry) | Parry, Robert |
| Chisholm, Malcolm | Pike, Peter L. |
| Clark, Dr David (South Shields) | Prescott, John |
| Clwyd, Mrs Ann | Primarolo, Dawn |
| Cohen, Harry | Redmond, Martin |
| Connarty, Michael | Rooney, Terry |
| Cryer, Bob | Ross, William (E Londonderry) |
| Davidson, Ian | Skinner, Dennis |
| Dixon, Don | Spearing, Nigel |
| Fatchett, Derek | Spellar, John |
| Flynn, Paul | Steel, Rt Hon Sir David |
| Forsythe, Clifford (Antrim S) | Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury) |
| Godman, Dr Norman A. | Tyler, Paul |
| Gordon, Mildred | Winnick, David |
| Graham, Thomas | Wise, Audrey |
| Gunnell, John | Wray, Jimmy |
| Harvey, Nick | |
| Hood, Jimmy | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Illsley, Eric | Mr. Harry Barnes and |
| Jones, Barry (Alyn and D'side) | Mr. Alan Meale. |
§ Question accordingly agreed to.
§ Sir David Steel (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) for drawing my attention to the fact that, on 1 July 1975, following a Division in which the Ayes voted 222 and the Noes 13 and in which I was a Teller, the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) raised with the then occupant of the Chair a point of order, in which he said:
Following the announcement of the clear intention of the Liberals to call Divisions on every amendment, I would point out that Mr. Speaker has it in his power under Standing Order 36 to rule on unnecessarily claimed Divisions, to take appropriate action and to call votes in the Chamber."—[Official Report, 1 July 1975; Vol. 894, c. 1363.]What has happened tonight is consistent with the wise words of the hon. Member for Bolsover.
§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Geoffrey Lofthouse)The House is certainly a mine of information this evening.
§ Mr. SkinnerIt is fair to point out that, during the 23 years that I have been a Member of Parliament, I have been consistent in never trusting the Liberals. I did not do so on that occasion. I took appropriate action and, what is more, always will, because they are junior Tories.